Research has shown the importance of diversity representation in education both in PK12 and in higher education, but disability and neurodiversity have often been left out of the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) conversations in higher education. Disabled and neurodivergent faculty members in higher education face barriers and stigma, and…

This collective case study documents four research universities' efforts to advance faculty diversity and inclusion on their campuses. Informed by the campus racial climate framework, our research team offers identifies two broad categories of barriers, including structural barriers and active barriers. Structural barriers included institutional…

Digital proficiency, including coding, is increasingly essential in physics education. However, disparities in coding skills among students are influenced by demographic factors and prior educational exposure. This study examines barriers to pre-university coding exposure for first-year physics students across five UK institutions, proposing a…

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Inclusive Excellence initiative funded 57 institutions to improve capacity to include all students in STEM education and research activities. At Towson University, a professional development (PD) program funded by this initiative helped STEM faculty design course-based undergraduate research experiences…

The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of Muslim professionals in U.S. workplaces with varying levels of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. The research, conducted through a basic qualitative approach with twenty participants, delved into the personal and professional narratives of these…

This phenomenological case study investigates the lived experiences of minority students attending a predominantly white institution (PWI) in the Southern United States, addressing the impact of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and recent legislative changes, particularly divisive concepts laws, on their sense of belonging and…

Higher education in the United States is currently grappling with two significant challenges that threaten its sustainability: the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a decline in enrollments, and the 2023 Supreme Court decision to prohibit affirmative action in college admissions. This essay explores how these challenges…

This phenomenological study examines the lived experiences of nonprofit employees who, in their formal roles, actively promoted racial equity within their organizations. The research investigates the origins of their commitment, the multifaceted challenges they face, and the transformative potential embedded in their efforts. Employing a…

This study explored the challenges and barriers of women of color participation in administrative roles of higher education. Women of color tend to hold positions that are marginal in higher education organizations, lacking authority and influence while placing them in positions to not be influential in change or decision making. However, it is…

This design case explores the development of tools to foster diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) in course design and teaching at a predominantly white institution. We designed a suite of tools for instructional designers and faculty to review online courses, helping to ensure quality course design and meaningful learning experiences…

This article examines the experiences of racialized graduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs at one Canadian university. There is virtually no research on racialized inequity and STEM higher education in the Canadian context despite a robust body of literature outside of Canada, especially in the…

Contemporary events, including the recent Presidential campaign, have demonstrated the symbolic and political significance of language in our society and culture. Language is a primary tool for "naming the world" and defining our desires roles - as subjects and ojects - in the environments we inhabit. Yet, as often as language is a means…

As state educational standards increasingly emphasize cultural awareness, this study explores how White elementary school teachers in predominantly White schools can be better supported to meet these expectations and enhance their self-efficacy and cultural competence. This study was conducted at a small rural elementary school on the coast of…

This qualitative dissertation explored the challenges faced by African American students in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Hospitality Program at a Historically Black Community College (HBCC) in Alabama. Framed by Social-Identity Theory, Critical Race Theory, and the Inclusive Excellence Framework, the study addressed the…

Belonging in a discipline or department is an important aspect of people's persistence in that discipline or department, especially for undergraduate students. Previous research has shown that increasing student feelings of belonging in a department benefits all students and is even more valuable for women, racialized people, and other…