A growing Latinx population within the United States and California has given rise to an increase in Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and a proliferation of a new and lesser-known institutional type of HSI, the Hispanic-Serving Research Institution (HSRI). With HSRIs historically being identified as predominantly white institutions (PWI) and…

One of the challenges faced by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) has been frequent turnover in crucial executive leadership positions. As of 2022, there were 99 HBCUs; two-year and four-year private and public institutions (NCES, 2024). In the fall of 2023, at least 18% of the HBCUs in the country were without a permanent…

Academic and student affairs are the two largest divisions in higher education institutions. While the benefits of academic and student affairs partnerships are evident, levels of disconnection due to professional and structural barriers still exist. One of the critical challenges faced by universities is the separation between academic and…

This phenomenological qualitative study examined how collective healing manifests through the work of leaders in higher education at a U.S. university located on the West Coast through semi-structured interviews. Using the construct of collective healing as a conceptual lens, this study explored how the work of leaders in higher education creates…

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic triggered unprecedented disruptions in higher education, forcing swift changes to core operations, particularly within divisions of student affairs. A review of the literature reveals COVID-19 presented many unique challenges for students and student affairs professionals, including disruptions in traditional…

This study explores how aesthetic decisions influence community college presidents. Aesthetic choices communicate powerful messages (McArdle-Clinton, 2008). These messages influence a campus community, affecting access, cost, decision, and equity (Bouillard & Deslandes, 2015; Connor & Schrecker, 2010; Fairclough, 1995; James, 2013). These…

American society is on the precipice of an imminent shift in racial and ethnic representation of non-white citizens as the dominant culture. As microcosms of America's population, the burgeoning of this change is evident in diverse student demographics within Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). In spite of this approaching change, PWIs'…

Institutions of higher education continue to grapple with how to most effectively meet their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) priorities. Colleges and universities have turned to Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) as the institutional leaders to champion to provide leadership for creating more diverse, equitable and inclusive experiences and…

The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore how higher education leaders at a public university in the Southeast United States employed cultural intelligence and transformational leadership to successfully foster organizational innovations to adapt to their growing multicultural student context. The objective of this study was…

In our political and cultural climate, where America is recovering from a pandemic, affirmative action is no longer the law of the land, DEI programs are being cut, and African American history and heritage are being denied and eradicated; how do African Americans navigate white spaces? How do African American leaders obtain a seat at the table?…

Racially minoritized students (RMS) face substantial disparities in college persistence and completion rates (Museus & Saelua, 2017). In particular, Black student enrollment at public two-year or community colleges has declined significantly, dipping below 13% in 2020, while for-profit institutions have maintained enrollment of Black students…

This qualitative phenomenological study delves into the product of women's leadership in Catholic colleges of education in four regions of Ghana. Using the synergistic leadership and organizational culture theories as the conceptual frameworks, the study examined the essence of the lived experiences of women in leadership positions of these…

The imperative to increase the representation of historically minoritized groups (HMG) in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers by addressing systemic barriers in the United States remains a formidable challenge with profound implications. By 2036, the majority of high school graduates in the United States will be people…

Emblematic of democratic principles and composed of diverse people and cultures, the California community colleges are a confederation of 114 accredited campuses. Accreditation is a quality assurance conventionalism reflective of American values and ideologies and provides a stamp of approval to ensure public confidence in the virtues of the…

Data collected over the past 30+ years consistently show one in five women are sexually assaulted on college campuses (Mccauley & Casler, 2015), and that the occurrence may be even higher due to serious underreporting on campuses (Palmer & Alda, 2016). To better combat sexual assault on campus, universities are charged through federal law…