Overall, there has been an increase in students earning bachelor's degrees, but for first-generation college students (FGCS), the overall percentage earning a degree is decreasing. Overall, the available literature provides information about the factors that lead to the disparities experienced by FGCS (i.e., socioeconomic factors, cultural…

The purpose of this phenomenological narrative study was to explore the BIPOC graduate student experience and factors impacting mental health and well-being. The researcher interviewed 10 BIPOC graduate students to explore how the graduate student experience affects their mental health and overall well-being. Additionally, the study explored…

This study is an exploration of experiences of Chicanx butch lesbian students who are navigating higher education environments in San Antonio, TX. Focused on the intersection of race, gender, and sexual identities, the testimonios in this study highlight how Chicanx butch lesbian students subvert and challenge dominant heteronormative and…

The impostor phenomenon (IP) refers to the inability to internalize one's success as the product of one's own efforts. Instead of attributing their success to their own capabilities and intelligence, individuals with IP attribute their success to external factors, such as luck, charm, and having the right connections. In addition, those with IP…

This narrative study explored the relationship of coaches and Black male student-athletes seeking to understand the stories of Black male student-athletes, their relationship with their coaches, and the role of the coaches in their academic, athletic, and social identity development. Using narrative techniques, the author worked with three…

The number of students with disabilities enrolling in higher education has steadily increased. Most students with disabilities begin their collegiate journey at a community college, but the persistence and graduation rates remain low. Students with disabilities do not seek needed resources and support because of fear of stigmatization, lack of…

Asian Americans have long been targeted and blamed for problems in social, political, and educational realms. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this racial bigotry contributed to hostile environments for Asian American college students. While previous research has discussed the negative impacts of racism on this population, my study explores how Asian…

It is indeed a fact that diversity helps to build a better economy, and diverse businesses are proven to be healthier and more successful, but the lack of diversity in the workforce and educational environment, shows that the pipeline is not moving Latinx people enough. Latinx community is the largest minoritized community in the United States,…

A narrative inquiry was conducted to explore the stories of students of Color with low-socioeconomic status perceptions of predominantly White institutions through their college experiences. This narrative inquiry explored if those experiences influenced their identity as college students, and if so, in what ways. Transition theory and the…

Black women undergraduates are represented in low numbers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Research studies have lacked data outlining the compounding effects of the intersectional, gendered, and racialized experiences they often face in their programs of study. Participation in kinship networks may be a critical…

Available research discusses the first-generation undergraduate experience, graduate students' sense of belonging, and first-generation graduate students, but little research shows the themes that impact a first-generation graduate student's sense of belonging. Understanding the first-generation graduate students' experience as a marginalized…

This research study explored the relationship between a student's college-going generational status, involvement in leadership development experiences, and leadership self-efficacy at four-year, public rural-located institutions across the United States using data from the Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership collected in the spring of 2021.…

The purpose of this study was to examine how college students who identify as queer and Muslim and attend 4-year colleges and universities integrate their religious and sexual identities. The study was conducted through a constructivist paradigm that acknowledged multiple truths and the role of the researcher in co-constructing knowledge. The…

This study delves into the divergent experiences of Black students at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States. Employing qualitative methods such as interviews and critical friend groups, the research investigates the social, academic, and cultural landscapes that…

HSIs represent less than 20% of all institutions in the U.S., however, they enroll over two-thirds of all Latino students attending post-graduate studies. The purpose of the study was to expand the research on how institutional practices and ecosystems grounded in white normative values marginalize the lived experiences of Latina students at…