The low transfer-out and degree completion rates amongst community college students transferring to four-year institutions demonstrates an issue that leaders within higher education should seek to address. In investigating the challenges transfer students encounter, I discovered that undergraduate students transferring from a community college to…

Past research on knowledge has differentiated between dimensions of knowledge, for example amount or coherence. This dissertation introduces a novel dimension of knowledge, the Motivational Utility of Knowledge (MUK), that is based on hierarchies of human needs (e.g., physical safety, status/esteem, actualization, reproduction). The effects of MUK…

There has been a particular emphasis on the ways that an individual's concept of self and their own perceived academic competence is influenced by their socio and external environment (Bandura, 1999; Baumeister, 1999). However, existing research has provided little to no focus on how these internalized beliefs of self, and perceived academic…

Feelings of distress over the unknowns of the future refers to an intolerance of uncertainty (IU). IU is significantly linked to internalizing disorders like anxiety. College students are in a unique position of uncertainty and anxiety as they emerge into adulthood. Additionally, external sources of uncertainty, like the economy, may contribute to…

The Imposter Phenomenon (IP) has been studied since the 1930s but gained renewed interest with a spotlight on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The 2013 book, Lean In, by former Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg, brought the topic of IP into the spotlight focusing on women in the workplace who struggle with feeling like an Imposter. Although…

Collaborative learning is acknowledged as an important skill in both higher education and modern society. However, there are many challenges when designing and implementing collaborative learning and many studies report that college students are often frustrated when placed in such situations. Despite the fact that the literature has a wide range…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the employee's negative perception of their leaders, managers, and administrators, which adversely affects the organizational culture at HBCUs in Metro Jackson, Mississippi. With the current business problem regarding the impact of employees' negative perceptions of their leaders, the study…

Black males with mental health diagnoses face substantial barriers to gaining and maintaining employment. Tailored employment support services may help increase employment access, yet utilization remains low among this demographic area. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study is to explore the employment challenges for Black males with mental…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of four different models (bifactor, CTC(M-1), CTCU and unidimensional) as to optimal model selection when the wording effect associated with negatively worded items was present. A Monte Carlo simulation study was conducted to compare model-data fit and accuracy in parameter estimates…

This study explored the unique leadership journeys of Latinx women holding principal positions in K-12 schools across New Jersey. The research findings revealed that these women's career paths were significantly influenced by their social identity characteristics, specifically as female Latinx individuals. The study serves as a crucial reminder to…

Under the backdrop of high-quality development in China, college instructors are crucial for higher education institutions to achieve their high-quality goals. To motivate college instructors, these institutions have increased the requirements for professional titles. However, how instructors experience their workplace directly influences the…

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…

This dissertation explores the role that shame plays in schools in the United States, both historically and today. Through utilizing the Scholarly Personal Narrative (SPN) arts-based inquiry method, I consider my own encounters with shame both as a student and teacher, and position these stories as a jumping-off point to further investigate the…

School officials, policymakers, administrators, and colleges and universities express concerns express concern regarding issues that affect the persistence of community college students. Graduation rates from community colleges continue to decline at colleges across the United States. The problem investigated in this study was how the negative…

This mixed methods study explores burnout in individuals who work in learning design and performance improvement. Fifty-three learning professionals completed a survey that gauged the degree of burnout, burnout causes and supports, and job satisfaction. Ten of those participants took part in interviews to collect further qualitative data. The data…