This phenomenological study aimed to explore the experiences of women with psychological disabilities to ascertain factors contributing to their persistence and success toward obtaining a 4- year college degree. The research questions examined were: (a) What do women with psychological disabilities identify as contributing to their success in…

Belonging-centered academic environments have been positively associated with increased academic achievement, engagement, and persistence. Yet, belonging is a context-driven construct, indicating that there may be differences in what an individual construes as a belonging-supportive versus belonging-thwarting environment. Therefore, when…

Over the last 30 years, the architecture academy and profession have endeavored to increase diversity within its ranks. Conversely, these intentions have yet to be realized, as the field of architecture remains one of the least inclusive of all the STEM disciplines. Many of the undergraduate degree programs in the US, unknowingly or…

This qualitative study was designed from an appreciative and positive research focus to examine how and why young women engage in, succeed, and persevere in STEM courses. The objective was to gain student perspectives on improving gender equality in STEM education. From the questionnaire and focus groups with participating women university…

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to add the voices and counter-stories of five Black women who attend community colleges to the discourse and literature concerning their co-curricular involvement experiences and persistence. I used critical race theory (CRT) as the theoretical framework to understand how involvement in…

In this empirical analysis, we provide a qualitative investigation of online learning among Black women engineering majors. This study makes theoretical and practical contributions by expanding knowledge of diverse online learners and informing ways to provide accessible and equitable online engineering education. Guided by the literature review,…

Women continue to be underrepresented within the STEM field. This qualitative, narrative, research student explores the expectations and experiences of women enrolled in a STEM program during their second year. Focusing on understanding their relationships with academic advising, faculty, and peers of all genders. Semi-structured interviews were…

This study explored how educational experiences enhance the cultural identity of deaf and hard-of-hearing undergraduate female students in Saudi Arabia, using an explanatory design. The study methods include a researcher-made scale involving 105 female deaf and hard-of-hearing students, a focus group with 20 female students, and individual…

Interpersonal interactions between teachers and students are a site where students may encounter negative experiences with mathematics; they are also a site where students can experience mathematics in empowering and positive ways. The aim of this study is to understand the work of communicating mathematics in ways that empower, rather than…

Although women earn over half of all bachelor's degrees in the United States, they are not equally represented across fields of study. Research on gender segregation in higher education has expanded, but this primarily quantitative work tends to neglect the voices of the college women who are experiencing gender-segregated settings firsthand. Our…

An advisor is often the most central and influential person influencing Black women's trajectory throughout graduate school. This study explored how and why Black women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) doctoral programs selected their advisors and their perceptions of the advisor/advisee relationship. Black Feminist…

There has been an increasing emphasis on equity, social justice, and diversity (ESD) curriculum in higher education graduate programs. Nevertheless, Black women in doctoral programs at historically white institutions (HWIs) often experience various challenges in classroom environments and with various curriculum and instruction approaches that…

The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the lived experiences of female United States Army veterans who have enrolled in an academic undergraduate program post-discharge. As higher education continues to be an important transition point for female veterans, understanding the lived experiences of this population provides higher education…

While teaching, many graduate teaching associates (GTAs) are exposed to contrapower harassment, as it is common in higher education. Contrapower harassment occurs when a person with more authority is harassed by a person with less authority. In the sport studies classroom, experiences of contrapower harassment are magnified for women, as they are…

The lower graduation rates of Black female students are a concern that colleges and universities needs to further explore. This study sought to hear from Black female students about their college experiences to further investigate causes and find solutions to the lower graduation rates of Black female students. Participants in Cycle 1 consisted of…