Despite persistent calls for institutions to offer internal leadership development programs for administrators, colleges and universities struggle to prepare mid-level administrators for professional advancement. Colleges and universities also face problems with employee retention. The experiences of those who occupy the organizational middle are…

In the last few decades, classical education has greatly expanded across the United States. The philosophical roots of classical education span over 2,000 years of history, yet very little educational research has focused on these ever-expanding schools. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the relationship between implicit…

The purpose of this research study was to examine differences in perceptions of spirituality outcomes between online and in-person students taking theology courses at a Christian liberal arts college in the Midwestern United States. Using a validated instrument, the Religious Education Survey (RES), 71 students were surveyed. A one sample t test…

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore how liberal arts students develop their post-graduation career plans. Utilizing an embedded case study approach, I interviewed 24 recent English alumnx and 3 current faculty at two different higher education institution types. Pryor and Bright's (2011) chaos theory of careers served as the study's…

Writing centers and writing programs, as well as the role of their administrators, are shaped by historical and disciplinary factors that have been closely examined by scholars over the last half century. However, the role of institutionality in writing center and writing program administration (WPA) studies has been ignored in much of the…

This project examined the adoption of cybersecurity into computing programs within liberal arts programs and whether the rate constitutes an innovative program. The research questions focused on the lived experience existing faculty members have had with the cybersecurity curriculum within liberal arts computing programs. Liberal arts general…

This dissertation explores the integration of culturally responsive leadership (CRL) into the professional development of higher education academic professionals, with the goal of fostering critical consciousness, self-efficacy, and just praxis. Through an action research case study methodology, the study investigated the effectiveness of a CRL…

In the past few decades, scholars have taken note of the spread of "American-style" liberal education curricula and programs to numerous foreign higher education systems around the world. The nascent literature on liberal education's global diffusion however has examined some international contexts, including sub-Saharan Africa, less…

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the experiences that contributed to the persistence of African American males at a historically Black college. The problem was that the percentage of 18- to 24-year-old African American males enrolled in the nation's colleges and universities over the past two decades has…

The employability of liberal arts versus specialized degree-holders is a significant concern in a technology-driven labor market. As a result of the specialized market, there has been an immediate demand for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or STEM-related degree-holders. However, the demand for STEM-related skills also…

This qualitative research study focuses on the role masculinities programs have on the gender identity development of college men who attend small, private liberal arts colleges and universities. Participants were recruited from six institutions across the United States, which resulted in eight individuals engaging in interview process. Through…

The purpose of this qualitative study intends to understand the concepts of self-authorship and the influence of masculinity upon self-authorship in the lived experiences of Christian men who attend a faith-based, liberal arts institution of higher education. Marcia Baxter Magolda's (2008) study on self-authorship shaped the conceptual framework…

The majority of American college students pursue a degree outside one of the STEM fields (US News & World Report, 2015), yet these same students must still complete a minimum level of coursework in mathematics for graduation. The intent of liberal arts math courses is to help students who are majoring in one of the liberal arts successfully…

To better understand the influence of social media use on male college students' gender identity and male gendered performance, this research examined existing research on digital identity and social networking sites, male gender identity development, college student development theory, and the effects of living arrangements on college students.…

Colleges and universities have a need to prepare faculty to educate students to be critical thinkers and well-rounded individuals. In accomplishing this goal, the undergraduate academic department chair takes on a critical role to assist with the process of faculty professional development. Currently, there is a call from different stakeholders…