The research and discourse surrounding Black women in college has continued to expand in its scope in recent years. Scholars have written about Black college women in several ways describing the intersections of their multiple identities, racial battle fatigue, and the unique adversities they face (McKinzie & Richards, 2019, Shahid et al,…

Higher education institutions continue to make significant strides in increasing the number of women in leadership positions, however, there continues to be an underrepresentation of women in leadership positions at higher education institutions in the Western United States. To explore the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions, the…

This study explored the multifaceted journey of Black women ascending to senior-level leadership positions within Illinois community colleges. It aimed to uncover, understand, and provide actionable recommendations concerning the progression of these women into prominent roles, focusing on their unique identities, the impact of leadership support,…

This narrative study explored the ways in which two Black male undergraduate students experienced and situated their identity in their first-year composition (FYC) courses. The study sought to reveal how the participants experienced stereotype threat in both the classroom and larger community and the ways in which this perceived threat impacted…

The study of gender identity is becoming increasingly important to the field of higher education as younger generations of students enter their undergraduate programs. "As the number of college students identifying as transgender," gender nonconforming, or another gender identity, increases, "so too does the need to understand their…

The purpose of this experimental research study is to garner systematic dynamics and governance understanding of what prohibited and subsequently advanced women's considerations to obtain a presidential appointment at historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) across the United States from 2020 through 2023; and why those appointments…

The representation of Black women in senior leadership positions within higher education hovers at a dismal 5.8% (Wilder et al., 2013). Though Black women's degree attainment has increased substantially in comparison to other racial groups (NCES, n.d.), they are not recruited and supported in these roles (Jackson & Harris, 2007), especially in…

The American Council on Education's (2017) most recent "American College President Study" found that only 30% of colleges and universities in the United States are led by female presidents. While some previous scholarship has addressed female college and university leaders in various ways, this study focused on communication factors that…

Purpose: All-women's higher education institutions serve the goal of offering a highly marginalized population a safe space to learn, mature, grow and develop physically, emotionally and intellectually. What might seem to be an obvious criticism is that a woman can, theoretically, achieve the same in a co-ed institution. Arguably, the scale of…

As the United States works towards strengthening and diversifying the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce, many national charges aim to increase the quantity of female participants, while overlooking how systematic barriers affect the quality of female students' education. Many STEM workforce development programs, such as…

Women are grossly underrepresented in leadership positions in Higher Education. Despite gains over the last several decades, the disparity still exists between women and their male counterparts. Leadership development programs, leadership style, and organizational culture have emerged as common themes in research studies. Continued advancements in…

In this study, Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT; Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 1994; 2000) was the theoretical framework to understand Black Women college students' career development process that included cultural (person and contextual factors). Due to Black Women embodying two historically oppressed and marginalized identities (gender and…

This doctoral dissertation documents the experiences of women (student and faculty) in computer science programs. The research emerges from the literature on the gender gap in computing and video gaming. Thus, the author seeks to find the meaning that participants have granted to their experiences as undergraduate students and faculty, in a…

In this study, I inquire into Teacher Ambassador Programs through the utilization of theoretical concepts such as aspirational labor (Duffy, 2017), capital (Bourdieu, 1984; 1986), and cruel optimism (Berlant, 2011). I describe how women are produced to aspire for neoliberal capitalist subject positions, such as the "good enough woman…

This study delved into the recruitment and retention challenges faced by Black male K-12 teachers in California's Central Valley, shedding light on their perceived impact on students. The underrepresentation of Black male teachers, comprising only 2% of the national teacher workforce and less than 1% in California, underscores the urgency of…