In this dissertation study, I aimed to 1) investigate gender patterns in students' career aspirations, in both STEM and non-STEM fields, and 2) identify factors contributing to persistent gender differences within specific STEM disciplines. Drawing on Gottfredson's (1983) model of circumscription and compromise, I examined gender patterns and…

This research explores a personal aspect of leadership: the self-leadership of Chinese women doctoral students in the U.S. This dissertation reviews current dilemmas of feminist and leadership studies and adopts a constructivist grounded theory approach to examine how Chinese women doctoral students have gone through their doctoral journey in the…

The cause of African countries' perennial low-income status and failure to achieve lasting social transformation has proven to be a consistently vexing puzzle. This dissertation was an exploration of a conceptual framework that addressed this important query. The framework was informed by existing literature, including works on the ideas of social…

Social justice is one of the core values within the counseling profession, as listed in the ACA Code of Ethics (2014). Counselors in training are charged with developing social justice skills that center advocacy and dismantling oppressive systems for clients, students, and communities. Although there is emerging interest in research, models, and…

This research study proposes to examine the cultural intelligence of international student support staff, which in turn serves as an indicator for international student engagement and the acculturation outcomes of international students on university campuses in the state of Louisiana. In this study, the major theoretical construct, student…

Socioeconomic status (SES), home language, and parent education level play a significant role in student academic achievement and the involvement of parents, including Latino parents, in schools. The purpose of this study was to understand Latino parent involvement at one southern California elementary school. The Latino critical race theory…

Despite significant cultural attention on the phenomenon of school shootings, one of the most predictive dimensions of these tragedies is under-analyzed: gender. Men commit 98% of mass shootings, but robust discussion and research on this relationship is lacking. This dissertation investigates the relationship between masculinity and gun violence…

Teacher shortages have been a longstanding issue in U.S. classrooms, largely due to low enrollment in teacher preparation programs. This has led many states to turn to alternative teacher certification programs to fill staffing needs. One such program in Georgia is the Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy (GaTAPP). This study…

Teacher shortages have been a longstanding issue in U.S. classrooms, largely due to low enrollment in teacher preparation programs. This has led many states to turn to alternative teacher certification programs to fill staffing needs. One such program in Georgia is the Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy (GaTAPP). This study…

Teacher shortages have been a longstanding issue in U.S. classrooms, largely due to low enrollment in teacher preparation programs. This has led many states to turn to alternative teacher certification programs to fill staffing needs. One such program in Georgia is the Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy (GaTAPP). This study…

This qualitative action research study was conducted within a multi-state Title I, K-12 public charter school organization with the purpose of identifying challenges and potential solutions for expansion of The Network into states beyond the state of origin and to determine the impact of a leadership development course on leaders within The…

This study applies critical race feminism theory (CRF) to understand the experiences of women of color (WoC) who are academic librarian leaders. This study explores the obstacles they overcame to achieve their leadership roles and the skills and assets they developed throughout their journeys. The research employs semi-structured, in-depth…

Approximately one in five U.S. young adults suffer from psychiatric disorders annually. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders is even more significant in college students. Despite the large population of college students who experience mental health disorders, they are unlikely to receive treatment on their campuses, even though campus health…

Gender inequality limits women's ability to make decisions in their best interest and behave independently of the male patriarch in the home. These inequalities can result in limited access to healthcare, support, services, and positive outcomes from receiving medical care. In addition, women deemed to have a lower social status than men do not…

College is the first time students have the opportunity to make independent financial decisions and employ financial practices. Research suggests that students pick up financial knowledge, habits, and practices from family, friends, and their broader community and that these practices can have long-term implications. Migrant farmworking college…