Despite strides toward acknowledging and uplifting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals on college campuses, the career journeys of LGBTQ professionals in higher education remain an understudied phenomenon (Smith, 2013; Robinson & Seyforth, 2018). While many campuses have increased LGBTQ inclusion efforts, public…

While the literature provides useful insights into the nature of experts, much less attention has been paid to how individuals become experts in their jobs in the first place and what they do with their domain-specific information over time. The purpose of the study was to describe the following areas: (1) what expert exployees do to acquire…

The busy schedules of student-athletes often prevent them from engaging in career development activities that can impact their career maturity and their transition into the world of work--further making their experiences as both student and athlete complex. The study used the action research methodology to address the complexity of the problem and…

Despite the recent increase in messaging on the importance of improving diversity and inclusion efforts within higher education, Black women working in administrative roles continue to be the most misjudged, undervalued, and underrepresented group of individuals on college campuses across the country. The purpose of this interpretative…

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lack of diversity among African American faculty at Ivy League universities. The purpose was to examine African American Ivy League professors' perspectives on diversity initiatives and how the lack of diversity and inclusion policies may hinder African American faculty career development.…

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,…

The purpose of this research study is to understand whether the peer mentoring experience benefits the peer mentors as it does those who are being mentored. The research seeks to understand whether traits in the peer mentoring program align with the traits employers are looking for in recent graduates. The study also seeks to understand what…

The purpose of this narrative research study was to explore the post-course perspectives of students who completed a life design career course and investigate what roles these experiences had upon the participants' post- course career narrative construction. Data was collected by interviewing nine undergraduate, domestic, students who had…

Modern nations operate within a global economy, relying heavily on the aviation industry for efficient and effective transportation of passengers and goods. The Boeing 2018 Pilot and Technical Outlook Report indicated that over the next 20 years, the aviation industry will need almost two and a half million new aircrew and maintenance employees to…

Previous studies have found that overall first-generation college students have lower levels of student engagement than non-first-generation college students in higher education (Pascarella, Pierson, Wolniak, & Terenzini, 2004; Pike & Kuh, 2005). However, more recent research has brought into question the extent of these differences in…

For more than four decades, the United States has used the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program as a foreign policy tool to pursue its geopolitical interests. The program, which consists of training foreign military personnel at American institutions, aims to strengthen alliances and regional stability, while advancing…

This dissertation describes a qualitative research study that grows our understanding of the career development experiences, supports, and barriers of social entrepreneurs who are gifted adults (SEGA) so that we may nurture the career development of future SEGA. Research questions for this study probed the career development experiences, supports,…

To broaden participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and continue building research capacity, this dissertation focuses on STEM professionals: those who take up education research later in their career and those who facilitate engagement in physics learning outside the formal classroom. Using agency,…

Women of color are historically underrepresented in STEM, specifically the field of engineering (National Science Board, National Science Foundation, 2019). In considering ways to assist in women of color's retention and persistence in engineering, it is necessary to recognize the role internships, a form of experiential education, at the…

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to develop a model for a career development program for entry-level student affairs (SA) women professionals based on the lived experiences of current mid-level SA professionals and senior-level SA professionals. As new women professionals pursue their careers in SA, they must navigate many barriers…