The campus climate of predominantly White institutions (PWIs) is often saturated by norms and traditions that are deeply rooted in oppression and exclusivity. The purpose of this qualitative study was to provide context and share counter storytelling of Black female students who successfully navigated these campus spaces and places, and shared…

Research shows that, despite the population growth rate of Latino/Hispanic communities across the U.S., they remain largely under-represented in professional and leadership roles across the country (Cruz & Blancero, 2016, p. 500). This underrepresentation is compounded when intersected with the gender wage gap. A study conducted by the…

Diversity initiatives must include the voices and influence of more individuals of marginalized identities (Honor Culture, 2020). Previous research initiatives have proven that Women of Color in higher education STEM programs experience frequent prejudice against their race, gender, and culture. This doctoral study explores the phenomenology of…

Males comprise less than 2% of the early childhood classroom teacher population. This research explored the experiences of male teachers from career exploration to classroom teaching. The purpose of the study included discovery of the influences motivating choice to teach in the early childhood education field. Five male teachers who have taught,…

This study examined the participation and experiences of women faculty and administrators in higher education in Uganda and how the culture of higher education impacted their leadership. I adopted a qualitative methodology and an ethnographic case study approach to explore how women faculty and administrators participated and experienced the…

In this project, I examine the emotional and lived experiences of women of color (WOC) graduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and how they embody and negotiate racism, classism, and sexism in academia, particularly in White, men-dominated STEM spaces. I utilize critical race theory and intersectionality to…

The manufacturing industry is crucial to the United States economy, constituting more than 10% of the gross domestic product (National Association of Manufacturing [NAM], 2022). However, the sector faces challenges such as a shortage of skilled labor and underrepresentation of women, which threaten its sustainability (NAM, 2023). Various…

Implementing curriculum standards in high school social studies education often challenges educators in shaping their instructional decisions and students' learning experiences. North Carolina social studies educators have faced challenges in balancing the requirements of curriculum standards with the need to teach sensitive topics such as race,…

Three studies were conducted to examine what factors were associated with expected bystander intervention across two different contexts (i.e., online and offline), two different age groups (i.e., adolescence and young adulthood) and three different forms of victimization (i.e., general cyberbullying, gender-based cyberbullying, and gender-based…

Participation in Informal STEM education (ISE) programs is becoming increasingly common among pre-college students. These programs often state improving broadening participation in STEM as part of their mission. ISE programs are known to foster heightened student engagement due to flattened student-teacher hierarchy, free choice, self-directed…

This study examined the development of self-efficacy among third-grade girls in a low-achieving school setting. Self-efficacy is defined as an individual's belief in their capabilities to attain desired outcomes, as described by Schillinger et al. (2021). This belief plays a significant role in influencing academic performance, social…

Concerns about a strong positive correlation between leadership and student success (Wood et al., 2013) coupled with community input around hiring from outside an organization, or hiring from within and selecting existing employees to fill superintendent vacancies contribute to the complexity of the hiring process. The limited research available…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the lived experiences of African American female faculty members within the organizational culture at community colleges in the south. Three research questions that provided guidance for this study: How do African American female faculty members describe their lived experiences…

History has created many societal structures, expectations, and barriers that keep women in a particular place where their voices are expected to remain silent and passive (Belenky, Clinchy, Goldberger & Tarule, 1997; Blount, 1998; Gilligan, 1982). According to Gilligan (1982), women have difficulty listening to their inner voices and often…

While women have attained higher-level roles and greater representation in higher education administrator roles, the concept of "the higher", "the fewer" (Nidiffer, 2002) represents the "gendered prestige hierarchies" (Allan, 2011, p. 58) that limit women's representation at more prestigious institutions while…