American youth face an acute crisis of belonging, marked by increasing alienation, anxiety, and absenteeism among students, that jeopardizes their educational experiences, mental health, and future success. Educators, policymakers, and community leaders are called upon to develop a strategic and comprehensive response. This brief contains…

Understanding how to foster belonging and ensure equitable engagement in STEM fields for diverse students is a critical need in education today. Despite substantial growth in the STEM workforce (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023; NSF, 2023a), there remain persistent gender and racial/ethnic gaps in students' access to advanced STEM education,…

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,…

The current study assesses the utility of the University Belongingness Questionnaire (UBQ) in community college settings. Utilizing item response theory (IRT), the UBQ was evaluated with a sample of 1155 community college students at one large community college on the west coast. In addition, other constructs were measured to ascertain the…

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…

This dissertation investigated predictors of scientific civic engagement among undergraduate students through a multimethod approach, focusing on how educational experiences shaped students' engagement with their communities using scientific skills. This multipart study addressed gaps in understanding how educational practices, identity, and sense…

This study explored the impact of historical trauma on Black Counselor education doctoral students, a population navigating the intersecting challenges of systemic oppression and the rigorous demands of doctoral study. Historical trauma, a cumulative emotional and psychological wound passed through generations, profoundly influences the lived…

Student activists have a long history of causing disruption on American college campuses. They have fought against numerous racial, sexual, and economic injustices in order to provide a more welcoming environment. Research supports that students who have a stronger sense of belonging and connection to their institution are more likely to persist…

The purpose of this study was to examine how membership in a historically Black Greek letter organization (BGLO) shapes the Black student experience at a predominantly White commuter institution. Students who identify as Black Americans with a membership in a BGLO for at least one year and were full-time undergraduate students at such institutions…

Students who transfer from a two-year institution to a four-year institution often have some difficulty settling into their new university home, but a combination of social and academic supports can ease the transition. This change to a new institution can be even more difficult for students who are transitioning into a fully-online program.…

A sense of belonging significantly influences both student engagement and faculty motivation. The objective of this study was to identify the barriers and facilitators of a sense of belonging among students and faculty of an occupational therapy department. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with fifty-one students and ten faculty…

Those who care about US public schools face urgent challenges while schools remain significant sites of racial inequity (Crenshaw, 2022; Darling-Hammond, 1998). School leaders play a crucial role in shaping educational in/equity for students (DeMatthews et al., 2020; Grissom et al., 2021; Khalifa, et al., 2016). Meanwhile, the increasing demands…

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted students' educational experiences, raising concerns about their social and emotional development. This longitudinal quantitative study analyzed changes in student perceptions of social and emotional well-being using Panorama Education SEL survey data from Cohort 2023 12th graders at an urban intensive high school…

Purpose: Although prior studies showed a positive association between rural youths' school experiences and educational outcomes, our knowledge is limited about how components of self-determination theory relate to rural youths' academic expectations and rural residential aspirations. Therefore, the current study aims to examine the relationship…

This study explores accessibility barriers in higher education (HE), by centering the voices of 50 disabled students. Drawing on the frameworks of critical disability studies (CDS) and in particular disability justice, we argue that access without belonging is not enough; disabled students need to be fully included in institutional life. Weaving…