The Educator Preparation Program at a burgeoning university in the Southwest United States offered preservice teachers two models of field residency experience. The students who participated in the cohort model had the same university supervisor and cooperating teacher during all three semesters of field residency and took two education classes…

Despite decades of passing civic initiatives to revitalize civic education, youth citizen participation, and young adult voter registration is low--most youth cannot even name one member of U.S. Congress. It also cannot be assumed youth will naturally become civically engaged and aware through their family and community. In addition, people of…

This dissertation is centered on further understanding the warehousing hypothesis. This is a phenomenon where college enrollment patterns across the U.S. are driven by labor market conditions. The interrelated nature of individual and structural level processes motivates the fundamental question driving my research: how do race and ethnicity,…

Data science employment opportunities of varied complexity and environment are in growing demand across the globe. Data science as a discipline potentially offers a wealth of jobs to prospective employees, while traditional information science-based roles continue to decrease as budgets get cut across the U.S. Since data is related closely to…

There is a workforce shortage and a huge gender disparity in the cybersecurity profession globally and Saudi Arabia. Enabling women to access these opportunities involves bolstering training and implementing reforms to give women the go-ahead to access these opportunities. With only a paltry 5% of women being in cybersecurity in the Middle East…

This study showcases stories of minority students participating in the Geopaths research program at California State University, Bakersfield. The study examined faculty mentorship and research activity variables to understand their influence on STEM recruitment and retention. Using a narrative analysis approach, the researcher documented the…

Higher education research supports that diverse faculty reflecting the students' ethnic and gender diversity is best practice to facilitate students of color academic success. Yet regrettably the underrepresentation of faculty of color in higher education is a historic and ongoing problem. Further, may scholars point to college senior leaders as…

This study examines how Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education may improve English Language Learners' academic achievement and high school graduation. In particular, it highlights the plight faced by ELLs in high schools regarding quality education that allows them to graduate on time and attend college. The analysis…

Young adolescents build notions of figures through experiences. When young adolescents begin middle school mathematics, they already have prior assumptions and conceptualizations about shapes (Herbst, Fujita, Halverscheid, & Weiss, 2017). Over years of experiences, interactions, and exposures with a particular concept, these students develop…

Undocumented children have a right to a public k-12 education in the United States, however there is no standard approach to higher education. About half of states allow undocumented immigrants to attend public colleges and universities at in-state rates of tuition (ISRT) and a subset of these also allow them access to state financial aid. This…

The purpose of this dissertation was to provide teachers, principals, district administrators, and local, state, and national legislators with an understanding of what the perception is of Hispanic American Immigrant parents regarding their access to parental engagement and agency through the American public school system, specifically elementary…

Throughout the historical journey of Black women in America, spanning from enslavement (Best, 2015) to activism as abolitionists, advocates for women's suffrage (Sesko & Biernat, 2010), and leadership in civil rights (Rushing, 2021), Black women's resilience shines through amid challenges. This study investigates the phenomenological…

Research on arts education notes the positive impact of arts education on educational outcomes for students, particularly students of color, students in poverty, and students needing additional academic support. Students living in low-income communities receive different educational opportunities than those in high-wealth districts. This disparity…

School reform efforts, particularly those that are concerned with equity and social justice have led to an evolution of educational leadership theories and practices. Among these, Culturally Responsive School Leadership and Critical Race Theory have emerged as potential frameworks for dismantling the ghost of neo-managerialism and its impact on…

This study was an exploration of the life and career experiences of veteran LGBTQ educators who work or have worked at an identified Southeast Georgia public school district. Based on the National Survey of Educators' Perceptions of School Climate, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) educators reported a negative school climate…