The purpose of the action research project was to provide part-time professors in the California community college system a framework for meaningful professional development that could lead to more preparedness and empowerment; and to give part-time professors an avenue to gain leadership opportunities, and greater control over their learning and professional development. Cycle 1 of the action research project consisted of 56 members from the California Part-Time Faculty Association (CPFA), which is a community organization supporting part-time professors. CPFA spans the state of California and gave the study a varying level of participant experience from new professors to professors teaching 20-plus years. Many of the participants also hold union and association committee positions. The part-time professors that joined the study participated via surveys, semi-structured interviews, and participated in the evaluation of the findings. Based on the findings found in Cycle 1, Cycle 2's action step was to create and test a co-creational professional development series. Cycle 2 had 204 participants and 13 community colleges were represented. The data collected was evaluated using dual coding and led to 4 key findings with the outcome being that co-creational professional development was effective at encouraging preparedness and empowerment. Participants reported increased feelings of preparedness by learning new teaching methodologies and empowerment by having a voice in their learning. The implication of these findings for part-time professors in the California community college system is a framework that can be used to conduct their own co-creational professional development courses at their own higher education institutions. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]