This research study analyzed Reddit social media posts and comments in response to questions based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) linking early childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with the use of social media. This study researched the impacts that these experiences have had on learning in higher education for…

Some international students live with their aunts and uncles while studying in the United States. Living with aunts and uncles shapes these students' college going experience. However, research about college student family issues has not specifically explored the role and impact of local extended relatives on this student population. The purpose…

This qualitative study examined the experiences of 14 LGBTQ+ college students in healthy intimate relationships with a focus on the ways that romantic partners give and receive affection. Framed through a consideration of "love languages," this study challenges and extends what have become socially normative strategies for demonstrating…

The present study sought to explore the lesser-known dark side of flow in academics. Although flow is typically viewed as a positive experience, its outcomes are not always beneficial. In order to carry out this endeavor, a sequential explanatory design was utilized to assess the potential negative consequences associated with flow in the domain…

This dissertation is an exploration of leader identity development and women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) college academic classrooms. While there continues to be research promoting diversity in STEM professions, women remain underrepresented in STEM disciplines, leadership positions, and for this specific study, the…

Students' identification with schools or universities is associated with many positive outcomes, such as increased cooperation and completion of studies. This study is a qualitative investigation of university students' experiences concerning identification. Two hundred and eleven Italian students and 226 U.S. students wrote responses to…

Collaborative learning is increasingly common in higher education, with several studies pointing to its effectiveness. However, it also poses some social and cognitive challenges for students, resulting in students' mixed attitudes toward collaborative learning. COVID-19 has added to these challenges by, for example, introducing barriers to…

The scholarship concerning undocumented immigrant students continues to overlook the lives of Black undocumented immigrant (undocuBlack) students. This interpretative phenomenological study aims to increase awareness of how undocuBlack students experience college. Our findings suggest that undocuBlack students experience double invisibility…

Virtual teams are increasingly being utilized by organizations to connect employees across geographical boundaries and promote collaboration through communication technologies. The COVID-19 pandemic forced organizations to shift their employees to hybrid and remote settings. However, little is known about the use of virtual teams in educational…

Online learning in higher education offers a variety of options to meet the needs of students. Asynchronous online learning, in particular, provides flexibility, yet frequently falls short in terms of opportunity for encouraging connections between students when compared to traditional face-to-face educational experiences. Studies have determined…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe how students describe how they experienced a shift from traditional to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The theoretical framework was Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory. This theory was used as a lens to understand how students described their learning during…

This interdisciplinary, qualitative study applies a critical lens to the field of education abroad, advocates for a more expansive and inclusive view of student mobility, and centers Hawai?i as a destination of choice for increasingly mobile students. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fourteen students from the continental U.S. who…

Educators working toward creating inclusive learning environments for diverse student populations need to consider the educational landscape in which colleges and universities operate. Using racialized space and the Culturally Engagement Campus Environments (CECE) model, this study examines students' navigation of racialized spaces on campus.…

Background: Problematic trends have been identified with student travel that perpetuate hierarchies of power in outdoor recreation. Little research has examined the impact of bias, racism, or political national meta-narratives regarding immigration and people crossing the border on students who enter areas where cultural differences exist.…

College students' interactions with campus leaders are a crucial element of their success and satisfaction in higher education; however, little is understood about students' identification, perceptions, or expectations of campus leaders. To help fill this gap in the literature, I led two exploratory studies in collaboration with my committee chair…