This dissertation comprehensively explored the dynamics of value congruence in group homes serving individuals with intellectual disabilities. Value congruence was critical because it supported the alignment between an organization's stated values and the personal values of its employees, fostering a cohesive work environment that enhanced both…

Sense of belonging is an important psychological and social factor for college students. Students who report a strong sense of belonging to an institution are more likely to return the next year (Hausmann et al., 2007), stay in school (Fine, 1991), graduate (Morrow & Ackermann, 2012), learn (Kernahan et al., 2014), thrive (Strayhorn, 2019),…

This qualitative study investigated staff retention in higher education by focusing on the retention of academic advisors. Academic advisors play an integral role in student success and advising is notably one of the fields in higher education with the greatest turnover. This turnover comes at great costs, financial and otherwise, for the…

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of senior level RAEMW administrators who work at 4-year PWIs in the U.S. and analyze the impact of institutional environments on their success. The theories that guided this study were: Crenshaw's (1994; 1989; 2015) intersectionality framework and four tenets of CRT which include…

Student affairs professionals (SA-pros) play a critical role throughout campus life (Gaston-Gayles, Wolf-Wendel, Tuttle, Twombly, & Ward, 2005; Hirt, 2006; 2009). Although these staff are trained and responsible for LGBQ student well-being (Kezar, 2010; Kezar, Gallant, & Lester, 2011), those serving at Christ-centered institutions are…

In previous studies, Black gay males have shared their lived experiences at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), but the voices of outwardly presently gay Black males remain void in the literature and how they navigate such institutions. Despite their community and relationship-based environment, the foundational tenets of HBCUs…

African American women utilize the community college environments as an avenue to attain an education and eventually pursue career and educational goals while remaining in their own communities. However, not much is known about the unique perceptions and experiences of African American women impacting their enrollment and persistence at rural…

A disproportionate representation of Black women diversity administrators within postsecondary education are confronted with institutional barriers that have seemingly obstructed their professional discovery, mobility, and success paths. Presented as the bridge leaders and cultural brokers of postsecondary institutions in the face of hegemonic…

Utilizing the narrative case study method, this study elevates the voice and perspective of African American music professors currently employed in predominantly White institutions. Five participants were selected through purposive sampling. Specific criteria are based on self-identified race, degree status, current employment status, years of…

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to discover, from career services practitioners' perspective, their involvement working with faculty advisors on academic and career advising of collegiate visual and performing artists (VPA). Habley (1988, 2009) wrote about the importance of research in academic advising, to promote scholarly inquiry,…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive research study was to explore and describe how non-LDS full-time faculty and staff describe working and living in a predominately Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) environment and whether the environment informs their social identity in the workplace at a public regional comprehensive…

Self-determination theory (SDT) posits a framework for human motivation, highlighting an individual's interactions and perceptions of his or her environment. Research incorporating a SDT framework has identified antecedents of psychological need satisfaction (PNS) in human motivation. Individual motivation broadens levels of social interactions as…

School based leadership is an increasingly complex task that requires leaders to find ways to spread responsibility throughout organizations to achieve goals. This dissertation research is an exploratory study in the field of sustainability of distributed leadership at Capital High School, a large urban high school. Exploring the sustainability of…

The dissertation offers a historical inquiry about how television's material traces entered archival spaces. Material traces refer to both the moving image products and the assortment of documentation about the processes of television as industrial and creative endeavors. By identifying the development of television-specific archives and…

The employment of part-time faculty (PTF) continues to ensue debate among educators, policymakers, and state officials. Recent debate has focused on the impact of employment of PTF on student outcomes, but misses a critical element--the experiences of part-time faculty. This study explores community college PTF members' perceptions of their roles…