Over the years, the Hispanic immigrant population in the United States has increased, impacting the education system with higher enrollments. Significant research has reported a high prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in children of immigrant parents (Schmengler et al., 2021). ASD originates in…

This qualitative phenomenological study explored African American faculty's lived experiences with White privilege in higher education and employment decisions. 15 African American faculty working in colleges and universities in the Midwest, Northeast, West, Southwestern, or Southeast regions of the U.S. participated in this study. Study…

The purpose of this study is to examine first-generation (FG) Latinas lived experiences and how they successfully navigate their roles as higher education professional staff. FG Latina professional staff were interviewed to understand how their identities as Latinas impact them in their higher education careers. Chicana Feminism (Delgado Bernal,…

This dissertation investigates the relationship between ethnicity and place among 44 young adult Latino English speakers in the state of Georgia using a mixed-methods approach. While varieties of Latino English have been studied in traditional destination communities (TDCs) like Texas, California, or New York, where the Latino populations are…

Although retention of students in higher education has been studied extensively, research around retention of international students in U.S. higher education institutions is not as common. This study focuses on the concept of international students' sense of belonging as it relates to retention and persistence, exploring how international students…

In "Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier" (1988), the U.S. Supreme Court established that school administrators have the right to review, change, or remove student-created media if the school sponsors it and if the school administrator has a "legitimate pedagogical interest," which has been inconsistent across high school student-created…

Even with women outnumbering men in obtaining graduate and professional degrees in educational leadership, the representation between women and men in higher level positions such as principalships, district office executives, and superintendencies remains incongruent. Consequently, this incongruency is further exacerbated when we look beyond women…

The purpose of this research study was to explore the strategies African American women use to navigate systemic barriers faced in academia in order to attain and retain higher education positions at the level of academic dean and higher. A narrative inquiry approach was taken using Black feminist theory to explore this phenomenon. A total of…

The topic of achievement gaps between students of color and White students is much discussed and analyzed throughout our country. Schools that have a diverse student population and have subgroup achievement gaps are slow to adopt change that can close these gaps. One area schools need to examine is the diversity of their teacher workforce. The…

Decades of research maintain that culturally relevant teaching (CRT) is a powerful methodology for understanding the obligation to teach minoritized students of color in authentic ways that acknowledge and honor them and the ethnic groups they represent, increase achievement and engagement of students representing diverse cultures, and reduce…

Sex education describes an amalgamation of learning experiences that promote voluntary behavior conducive to related health. Hence, a multidimensional implementation approach that integrates several stakeholders and methods can increase the effectiveness in achieving desirable behavioral and health outcomes. The schools primarily comprise young…

Black males in higher education continue to face persistent challenges due to overt and covert racism, hindering their progress towards graduation, particularly within Historically White Institutions (HWIs). This study examines the factors contributing to the invisibility and barriers faced by Black males, including engagement, academic…

This study explores the parental support first-generation Latinas have received, and recognizes the skills, knowledge, and various forms of support that Latinx parents can and have provided their daughters when they seek a college education. Through a community cultural wealth framework, this study adds to the current literature on Latina and…

This study aims to determine if the educational approach of educator Marva Collins was counter-hegemonic through a critical race theory (CRT) lens. This is a study in contemporary history using autobiographical and archival materials and in-depth interviews to explore the relationship between her educational approach and that used by the…

The purpose of this study was to examine parents' lived experiences when considering the impact of their parental involvement and parenting styles on their ethnic minority youth with disabilities, transition outcomes, and mental health. Specifically, the research sought to explore how parents' levels of engagement in their children's education may…