The overarching aim of this dissertation is to expand evidence and theory of adult identity processes in the context of environmental stewardship, as well as to provide knowledge and recommendations to environmental stewardship and environmental education professionals. The intent is to better understand variation in how adult environmental…

Increasing attrition rates affect the quantity and quality of teacher human capital worldwide and pose threats to classroom practice and student learning outcomes. Understanding of these effects will be advanced by studying the reasons why preservice teachers leave or remain in the teaching profession. Literature indicates a range of influential…

Different teaching and learning strategies have informed physics educators on addressing the cultural meanings and practices of physics that have sustained homogeneity within university programs. However, literature evidence physics learning environments are under-theorized in dismantling homogeneity and conceptually changes physics student…

This study explores the experiences of senior Black women leaders in higher education. It aims to focus on the barriers they face and the support they receive during their professional journeys. The study conducted in-depth interviews with nine Black women in various roles within higher education institutions. The research aims to unveil the…

The purpose of this study was to identify malleable practices in the homes of Spanish-speaking toddlers prior to school enrollment. This was achieved by examining daily activities and routines and the role older siblings played in these interactions to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the home language and literacy environment and…

The purpose of this study was to gather data about male leadership bias and how it affected women's treatment, evaluation, and promotion in a predominantly male leadership environment. This was explored through the lens of role congruity theory (Eagly & Karau, 2002) which underscored the impact of gender stereotypes on women leaders, mainly…

Historically, minority students have been overrepresented in special education programming in the United States (Fletcher, 2014; Wright & Wright, 2021). This study describes how several external historical, theoretical, and practical factors beyond academic challenges impact special education qualification rates for minority students compared…

For Latina school administrators, the movement through the principal pipeline is not easy, as many encounter discrimination and biases rooted in their gender, ethnicity and other intersecting identities. Schools should leverage Latina administrators' cultural knowledge, perspectives, and experience to improve student educational outcomes. A Latina…

Despite significant cultural attention on the phenomenon of school shootings, one of the most predictive dimensions of these tragedies is under-analyzed: gender. Men commit 98% of mass shootings, but robust discussion and research on this relationship is lacking. This dissertation investigates the relationship between masculinity and gun violence…

How Latinas experience their racial identity is unique when viewed through the Black and white racial dichotomy that exists in the United States. In Latin America, race is understood to be phenotypical and determined based off the color of your skin, whereas in the United States, race is often understood to be genotypical (Darity et. al, 2005),…

Although ample research investigates students' belongingness experiences in counselor education (CE) programs, existing literature only marginally explores the realities of Black master students, and there is a notable lack of empirical attention to Black doctoral students' belongingness experiences in counselor education and supervision (CES)…

The driving theme for this research was cultural discontinuity as experienced in the American academic institutions. Cultural discontinuity is understood as a way in which the cultural practices and values of students' home culture affect the academic achievements of the students usually, resulting in low academic accomplishments. This phenomenon…

Scholars over the past few years have drawn attention to the enormous potential role historical stories can play in promoting student understanding of issues associated with the nature of science (NOS). Such stories, often referred to as "historical narratives," are thought to do so by providing a rich historical context within which…

The primary purpose of this research study was to examine and understand how women leaders thrive, survive, and negotiate their leadership role at higher education institutions in New Mexico when female leadership has not been the historical norm. By exploring this question, the aim was to gain a deeper understanding of the culture of leadership…

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine how Nigerian Americans and their families understand academic success, identity, and family influence. This research study aims to understand these three areas by examining the experiences of five Nigerian American undergraduate students and their respective families. The data for this study was…