This dissertation explored the role mentors play in female students' selection of a college for undergraduate education. Domestic and international female students enrolled full-time at a University in the Southeastern United States were engaged in a focus group setting to understand how mentors influence the college choice process. While research…

The purpose of this dissertation is to study the consistency of the structures and the centrality of mathematics courses in the curricula of the universities in the Minnesota State University system. This research will be based on the curriculum prerequisite networks for the seven universities in the Minnesota State System. These networks will be…

Newly licensed nurses may enter the profession without the tools to cope with morally distressing events in the workplace. Experiences of moral distress at work negatively affect physical, emotional, and psychological wellbeing, and effects of moral distress on new nurses may result in job dissatisfaction, burnout, and abandonment of the…

This research involved investigating descriptions of experiences of undergraduate nursing faculty when incorporating mental health topics into their instruction. Nursing curricula are changing from traditional curricula to evidence-based curricula. With this change, undergraduate nursing faculty who have not previously taught mental health topics…

Current nursing practice is encountering challenges with retention, burnout, and staff satisfaction. Nurses are caring for patients who are more critically ill; expected to do more with less; and experiencing increased demands of their time due to nursing staff shortages. Research has shown how Authentic Leadership (AL) can positively impact…

International students are a significant yet often misapprehended segment of the American undergraduate student population. While recent literature has become more inclusive of international student voices, the lived experiences and identities of international undergraduate students have not been holistically explored in academe. This qualitative…

This case study examines Makerere University through the lens of U.S. land-grant ideal and normative domains in order to provide a deeper understanding of global higher education. A case study uses multiple types of data to create a holistic perspective. As well as interviewing Makerere stakeholders representing diverse sectors, numerous documents…

This research gathered information on the knowledge and readiness of nursing faculty to teach lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) health in baccalaureate undergraduate nursing programs. The attitudes and knowledge of nursing faculty to teach LGBT health issues, and gaps in the knowledge of faculty's willingness to incorporate LGBT health…

This action research study explored effects of perceived lapses in professionalism and negative behavior medical faculty exhibited with medical students and the learning environment. This study revealed such behavior contradicts principles taught in formal undergraduate medical education and highlights hidden curriculum influences on students. It…

The purpose of this case study was to examine the qualities novice teachers find valuable when determining whether or not they want to stay in their schools and districts after their first years of teaching. This case study also included undergraduate teacher preparation programs and whether or not graduating from a program with a partnership…

This dissertation studies two distinct but equally essential industries: higher education and water utilities. In the context of higher education, I investigate the impact of subsidies on equilibrium prices and quality levels. For water utilities, I explore the differences between public and private providers in terms of productivity and…

This dissertation explores the intersection of disability studies and special education, focusing on the integration of disability-affirming practices within special education teacher preparation programs. The overarching goal is to enhance the preparation of preservice special education teachers by incorporating disability studies content,…

Physics education research to date has predominantly focused on the undergraduate level. This has left critical avenues of research in graduate education relatively understudied and has motivated much of my research. Numerous studies across the education research landscape have analyzed undergraduate admissions practices, but few have critically…

Globally, nationally, regionally, and locally, we are facing a population shift. The number of individuals aged 65 and older will increase exponentially in the coming years, particularly for racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse groups. People are living longer but not necessarily healthier lives. This increase in longevity, coupled with a…

The STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) learning model is touted by its proponents for its potential in broadening access and participation in STEM learning through deep, authentic engagement in integrated STEM and arts practices. One location STEAM learning occurs is the new media arts classroom, where learners use…