Climate change is a defining challenge that is impacting the globe, associated with harsher weather, increasing temperatures, and increased landfills. The problem addressed in this dissertation research study is understanding how to engage individuals to adopt environmental attitudes. Environmental education is known to support…

This study focuses on how higher education institutions have responded to recent student demonstrations protesting alleged racism on college campuses across the United States. The study is a document analysis of contemporary diversity initiatives at college multicultural centers, reviews contemporary diversity training initiatives, and how these…

Using an appreciative inquiry framework, this qualitative participatory research study identified opportunities to foster a more positive and sustainable work culture for parent-identified student affairs staff and beyond, built on existing elements that support thriving and work-life harmony in the profession. Participants self-selected to attend…

Topics of school culture and climate are evolving in the education field. Researchers continue to study to refine and provide empirical research offering school districts, schools, principals, other scholars, and the general audience solutions and recommendations to transform, reform, and provide change in schools. This study explores school…

Academic advising is one of the few ways that institutions of higher education exert influence on student success and retention, though the organizational conditions that promote these outcomes are not well understood in the literature or in practice. Nor is it clear how advisors come to understand their role and associated expectations. This…

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the lived experience of administrators at a Christian higher education institution during the COVID-19 crisis. The theoretical framework used for this study was revolutionary change theory (RCT). Qualitative data was gathered from structured interviews with executive…

Scope and method of study: The purpose of this national research study was to examine the effects that COVID-19 had on primary flight training at the collegiate level. This study was to determine how pilot production was affected by the pandemic and its associated lockdowns and mitigation measures to help see the ripple effects it caused and…

The research and literature behind teaching mindfulness practices to support self-regulation are overwhelmingly favorable--many journals currently available report positive outcomes when using mindfulness practice interventions with research subjects. However, the majority of research now focuses on adult practitioners. This study proposed that…

The overarching aim of this dissertation is to expand evidence and theory of adult identity processes in the context of environmental stewardship, as well as to provide knowledge and recommendations to environmental stewardship and environmental education professionals. The intent is to better understand variation in how adult environmental…

Teacher retention is in crisis in the U.S. and globally, as the literature suggests, especially within the first five years of employment. Teachers cite lack of support, poor school culture and environment, poor compensation, difficult student behavior, unrealistically high workload, and job-related stress as reasons for leaving the profession.…

School climate affects student achievement, feelings of safety within the school, and teacher job satisfaction. Concurrently, the principal is often seen as someone with a direct influence on the climate of the school, and therefore someone who has a direct role in shaping these aspects of school climate. Recent data suggests that about one in…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of time in Mixed-Reality Simulations (MRS) on anxiety levels and coping for pre-service teachers (PSTs). A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was utilized for this study. The quantitative portion of the study used a convenience sample of 10 PSTs enrolled in one of two practice-based…

This critical phenomenological study aims to analyze the lived experiences of Latino male student affairs (SA) professionals considered early to mid-career at predominantly White institutions (PWIs). Three research questions guide the study: 1) How do Latino male SA professionals in higher education describe their leadership experiences at PWIs?…

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience of new nurses in the United States who experienced Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) for most or all of their nursing education during the COVID-19 pandemic and how they perceive ERT influenced their transition to practice during their first year as registered…

Native American students have consistently scored less than their white peers on high school academic achievement tests, have the lowest high school graduation rates, and have the lowest college enrollment rates. Research has evidenced challenges and struggles Native American children are faced with that negatively effects their success in the…