Latine college students are the fastest growing college student population in the United States. The culture that exists within institutions of higher education causes Latine students to experience cultural dissonance. Researchers have demonstrated that sense of "familismo," or sense of family, is one of the most important cultural…

A paradox exists among Hispanic college-bound students: despite a greater inclination toward pursuing a college education, they are among the least likely to persist toward graduation. This study contributes to understanding Hispanic persistence and retention strategies at a Predominantly White Institution (PWI). It examines the relationship…

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…

The problem under investigation will address how academic institutions can support culturally responsive self-care practices to increase the number of doctoral recipients identifying as Hispanic women, which is only 11% of all doctorates as of 2021. Since burnout can occur when self-care is not being prioritized, academic institutions have a…

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2021 was a life altering phenomenon for educators across the United States. Schools and teachers had to transform their teaching practices practically overnight. Education in most schools across the country conducted distance learning in some capacity. A demographic group that was affected was economically…

There is growing evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic had a large and negative impact on student learning. This dissertation explores the effect of the pandemic on one of the most vulnerable student subgroups: English Learners (ELs). In this work I examine existing disparities among subgroups of ELs, and the different ways the pandemic has impacted…

The purpose of this dissertation study was to identify the nature of 23, 4th grade children's talk in social justice awareness circles about topics representative of DEI issues. Omitted in prior research on student talk is the "situatedness" of the classroom discussion and how local context, school climate, media coverage of sensitive…

This study presents a comparative analysis to measure the effect of a special program designed to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) among Hispanic students at a Hispanic Serving Institution in Texas. In this study, it was hypothesized that the special program would deliver positive academic effects for the students…

It is indeed a fact that diversity helps to build a better economy, and diverse businesses are proven to be healthier and more successful, but the lack of diversity in the workforce and educational environment, shows that the pipeline is not moving Latinx people enough. Latinx community is the largest minoritized community in the United States,…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore teachers' lived experiences with student engagement in classrooms with a predominantly Hispanic population. According to the data collected in this study, academic engagement is often characterized in terms of observable behavior. However, research has proven that student engagement is a…

This project focused on the study of resilient Latinas in California Community Colleges and how educators and administrators can better support them through resilience-informed teaching practices, college policies, and support services. It studied factors specifically related to Latinas' resilience. Critical resilience is the theoretical…

Neoliberal policies such as the Fisher Credential, Ryan Act, Senate Bill 2042, and federally No Child Left Behind (NCLB), and Race to the Top, have influenced and brought substantial change to the landscape of education. These policies are also impacting prospective teachers within teacher preparation programs (TPP) in higher education.…

Child Language Brokering is a very common phenomenon for Latinx/a/o children of immigrants, who usually begin language serving as translators and interpreters at a young age and carry these roles into adulthood. Yet, despite the prevalence of Child Language Brokering, the findings of existing research still do not agree on the impact of this…

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that lead to the disproportionality of the graduation rates of African American and Latinx students at College X. This qualitative case study utilized interviews with faculty, staff, and administrators, document analysis, and site observations to study a small Midwestern college, College X.…

Generation Z, individuals born between 1995 and 2010, is projected to soon be the first minority-majority generation in the United States. This generational cohort is attending colleges now and will continue to enter colleges for the next decade. Within the Generation Z population are a large group of the Latinx students who often struggle to meet…