While it is well understood that teachers are leaving the profession, what is less discussed is the why behind teachers choosing to leave. In 2023, 44% of teachers surveyed said they were likely or very likely to leave their job within the next two years. By 2025, unfilled teaching positions are expected to approach 200,000 (Mielke, 2023). This…

This qualitative study examines the perceptions of managers in organizations that offer sabbaticals as an employee benefit. This dissertation explores how this benefit impacts the organization through the changes in the employee upon returning. Twelve participants comprised of managers of employees who have taken a sabbatical in organizations…

The purpose of this interpretive description study was to identify expectations for the process of mental health counseling for Generation Z college students who have sought counseling services at their college counseling center. In addition, how participants' identification with Generation Z and how that impacted their expectations for the…

Graduate education is designed to cultivate experts with knowledge and skills that will contribute to the field of student affairs by advancing research and enhancing practice. This edict often falls through, however, when students return to their doctoral programs after a leave of absence. I conducted a qualitative study to better understand the…

Graduate school is a stressful endeavor for students, causing the incidence of mental health distress to be higher in this group than in the general population. The purpose of this action research study was to investigate and improve the mental health supports for graduate students in teacher preparation programs. Cycle 1 data were collected in…

This study investigated the influence of previous education and professional experience on psychology graduate students' mental well-being. An online survey collected information regarding student demographic information, depression symptoms (PHQ-9), anxiety symptoms (GAD-7), resiliency (BRCS), and an attitude survey about seeking mental health…

The study investigated school-to-family communication efforts to improve daily attendance among economically disadvantaged students at the R Elementary School (pseudonym). Research questions during this study included to what extent does a 6-week school-to-family communication initiative impact student attendance rates and what are the existing…

The objective of this research was to gather the experiences of six participants from various 2-year and 4-year colleges in the state of Alabama. Participants were solicited using a flyer posted in-house and online to students who are members of the Equality and Advocacy Center (EAC) as well as the Acceptance of Diverse Population Center (ADPC).…

Since the onset of the pandemic schools have reported a 67% increase in mental health services in a survey conducted by study by the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau (Panchal, Cox, & Rudowitz 2022). This study investigated the current literature on self-efficacy as it pertains to school psychologists in their…

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of vicarious trauma on K-3 educators' mental health, job satisfaction, and career projection. Additionally, this study looked at the need for specific professional development opportunities and strategies to help educators navigate the effects of vicarious trauma. To accomplish the objectives…

An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) investigates how individuals make meaning of their social and personal environments. The primary questions that guide the exploration of the principals' perspectives for this study include "How do Title 1 elementary school principals describe their leadership experiences in relation to student…

Student mental health has been a pervasive crisis in the United States long before the pandemic, with 1 in 5 people living with mental illness (CDC, 2024). In general, teacher education programs have failed to offer comprehensive curricula that meaningfully address students who live with mental illness. Moreover, programs that do offer a mental…

International students contribute significantly to the diversity and financial well-being of U.S. higher education institutions. These students often experience mistreatment while they are rarely described as a marginalized group in need of inclusive accommodation. This quantitative study investigates perceptions of threat and sense of belonging,…

This dissertation investigates the relationship between stigma, knowledge, and help-seeking attitudes among high school students in two New York City Jewish day schools: a Modern Orthodox all-boys high school and a Sephardic Orthodox Jewish all-girls high school. The primary focus is on understanding how these factors: stigma about mental illness…

Supervision aims to protect clients and continue the development of supervisees. After graduation from formal counseling programs, supervision becomes the primary teaching, learning, and evaluative setting. Supervisors are tasked with monitoring and advancing their supervisees' skills and abilities, including multicultural competence and cultural…