Motivating girls to enroll in computer science (CS) courses is critically important. Stereotypes that girls are less interested than boys in CS may deter girls. Three preregistered experimental studies (N = 1,053) examined causal links between gender-interest stereotypes and middle school students' CS motivation. Experiment 1 showed that…

The study examined first-generation Latinas' experience in higher education, specifically those involved in Latina sororities. Research has documented the many obstacles first-generation Latina students experience, which provides higher education the opportunity to address the concerns and improve academic achievement. However, more research needs…

Numerous reports focus on why girls and women do not pursue and persist in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) study or careers, and how to influence their Interest. Since human affects, like Interest, are ever-changing, multi-dimensional, and connected constructs, their study is difficult. Some researchers, including myself,…

This dissertation investigates the leadership experiences of African America women employed at historically White Christian colleges and universities. The study engages the narratives of African American women who are leaders within these institutions. The findings of the study illuminate intersectionality and the challenges the double-bind of…

Sense of belonging as experienced by college students has contributed to high rates of co-curricular engagement and lifelong connections to an institution long beyond one's years as an undergraduate student. Undergraduate Students of Color and other historically minoritized student populations have reported barriers to their sense of belonging.…

The aim of this qualitative interpretive research study is to further current scholarship about Black undergraduate women students by exploring their interactions, both formally and informally with other Black women at predominantly white institutions (PWIs). My research findings expose how Black undergraduate women formed, maintained, nurtured,…

Women are underrepresented in the field of computer science. The presence of female computer scientists has changed over time, with a downward trend in the past few decades, with only 18% of women compared to men earning their degrees in computer science. Increasing the numbers of female students who pursue computer science not only will lead to…

This study examined the lived experiences of first generation college students at a women's college and how their social identities contribute to their perceived sense of belonging on campus. Strayhorn's (2012) Model of a Sense of Belonging was used as a theoretical framework for the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven…

The current study examined the moderating effects of resilience on the relationships between gendered racism and sense of belonging and gendered racism and academic self-efficacy for Black women at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). Data from 118 Black women (22.9%, undergraduate students, 26.5% graduate students, and 50.6% alumni/graduated…

There is a clear relationship between diversity and financial performance in business. Because diversity and inclusion initiatives continue to be a major focus for organizations, there is a need to better understand how to retain and foster professional women in leadership roles. This study aims to examine how a sense of belonging influences a…

This narrative ethnographic research study focused on the personal and schooling stories and counter-stories of three Latina teachers living and teaching in the Deep South. Using three contemporary young adult literature texts written by Latina authors, this three-month short term narrative ethnographic study sought to explore the lived…

Many Black women choose community colleges for their post-secondary education; however, issues of retention and persistence prevail, and many do not graduate. This study examines Black women graduates from two Mid-Atlantic community colleges who are community college completers from two institutions that historically suffered with low graduation…

Belonging and shame find themselves on a spectrum. Shame is on one end belonging the other. In the university setting belonging is widely researched. However, it is not known how shame resilience effects a college's students sense of belonging. This study tapped into shame resilience theory and self-authorship to start the conversation about shame…

This mixed methods study yielded two explanatory models for better understanding of the association between socioacademic factors and gendered racial identity among African American community college women. The quantitative portion explored the degree to which racial identity attitudes and sense of belonging with faculty were predictors of…