This dissertation contributes to the fields of (German) second language teaching and applied linguistics by critically examining ideologies of culture learning that manifest in the German integration course, a language/culture program established by the state for arriving refugees, asylum seekers, and third-country nationals (nationals from…

Scholars over the past few years have drawn attention to the enormous potential role historical stories can play in promoting student understanding of issues associated with the nature of science (NOS). Such stories, often referred to as "historical narratives," are thought to do so by providing a rich historical context within which…

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the cultural factors influencing the decision-making process of Latino families regarding the acceptance or refusal of special education services. Initiated by the observed disproportionality in Latino students being enrolled in special education programs compared to Anglo-American students, this…

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…

The primary purpose of this research study was to examine and understand how women leaders thrive, survive, and negotiate their leadership role at higher education institutions in New Mexico when female leadership has not been the historical norm. By exploring this question, the aim was to gain a deeper understanding of the culture of leadership…

Access to the college readiness curriculum has become a civil rights issue. Social class continues to impact those underrepresented on college campuses. This dissertation study aims to gain foundational knowledge that can be used to take action by developing recommendations that support a culture in which students from an economically…

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine how Nigerian Americans and their families understand academic success, identity, and family influence. This research study aims to understand these three areas by examining the experiences of five Nigerian American undergraduate students and their respective families. The data for this study was…

This study assesses the effectiveness of the curriculum for an online professional development training designed to support people working in the helping professions gain greater self-awareness about how they respond to stress and trauma in the midst of emotionally charged interactions. The training utilizes an existential, developmental, and…

A quantitative studies systematic review with narrative synthesis was conducted to explore the risk and protective factors among Latinx college students' mental health. This systematic review also aimed to identify the relevant demographic variability to the mental health of Latinx college students, and the relationship between mental health and…

This dissertation investigates the issue of gender stratification within engineering and other STEM-related fields. The dissertation is divided into three articles that address different aspects of the problem and propose potential solutions. Article 1 explores the persistent gender imbalance within STEM fields, particularly in engineering and…

This dissertation explored male students' perspectives on male dominance within career and technical education (CTE) programs and examined how these perspectives impact their educational experiences and career opportunities. The study uncovered a complex interplay of social, cultural, and educational dynamics that influence male students'…

The purpose of this project is to help LIFE Group teachers at First Baptist Church of O'Fallon, Illinois (FBCO) to be better postured to develop and teach effective lessons by intentionally seeking to impact the head, heart, and hands of learners through learning principles derived from Scripture, Christian education, pedagogy, and educational…

This study explored the role of critical reflection on faith formation of Indonesian female Christian students who study in selected colleges in Southern California. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 participants and the age of interviewees ranged from 19 to 26 years old. Data analysis was carried out using NVivo 12. From the…

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of undergraduate college student-parents who endeavored to breastfeed a baby while simultaneously enrolled in onground classes. Federal law stipulates employers must provide employees with sufficient designated lactation spaces and ample time to express breastmilk. On a college…

In this study, I surveyed 337 teachers representing 47 Wisconsin rural elementary schools with similar rates of economic disadvantage but exceeded expectations on the 2018-2019 Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (WI DPI) Report Card. Participating teachers were asked to anonymously complete Wagner's (2006) school-culture-triage survey and…