Learning to teach is multifaceted and dynamic resulting in a turbulent, fast-changing era of professional life for early career science teachers (ECSTs). Teaching practice is uncertain and tensions are endemic to the profession (Ball, 1993). This dissertation connects to and extends current research of the challenges ECSTs face and how those…

This qualitative study is an exploration of how women in higher education information technology (IT) positions navigate constructing their leadership identities. This includes the messy, personal, internal identity work that occurs prior to claiming their leadership identities on the public stage, followed by an examination of what the experience…

This dissertation is an exploration of leader identity development and women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) college academic classrooms. While there continues to be research promoting diversity in STEM professions, women remain underrepresented in STEM disciplines, leadership positions, and for this specific study, the…

In the current K-12 educational system, there is a lack of mentoring programs for novice principals, and as a result, a substantial number of principals are not well prepared to do the complicated job of a principal. The nation's report card shows how United States students have regressed in reading and math and which states experienced the most…

I was a person who identified as culturally Deaf but at the same time had progressive vision loss. I embraced my Deaf identity, but I did not embrace any inkling of identifying myself as a DeafBlind person considering the stigma associated with it. Due to that stigma, the journey of identifying as a DeafBlind person is difficult mentally,…

This study used narrative inquiry and critical Whiteness methodology to investigate the racial justice allyship barriers and development of White women student affairs professionals. A process of White women's allyship development was derived from participant interviews and is comprised of three interrelated phases: barriers to taking action,…

Responding to the claim that teacher engagement in professional development is a waste of time, this study employed phenomenology as the approach to explore teachers' perceptions of the role of continuous professional development (CPD) in improving their instructional practices and student learning. A purposive sample of elementary teachers…

This qualitative descriptive design study aimed to understand how males of color in a mentoring program described how natural mentoring relationships support their social-emotional, cognitive, and identity development during the transition from high school to college in a southern state. The researcher used Hagler's (2018) Process Model of Natural…

This thesis was written to gain a better understanding of the barriers and beneficial resources as perceived by service providers of students with an emotional disturbance. This study approaches the literature with a focus on human development. Gaps in the research consist of various theories by groundbreaking theorists that have paved the way for…

Technology has crossed over into virtually all aspects of modern life. As a result, there has been a growing emphasis on cultivating a skilled workforce within Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) sectors. However, there continues to be a disparity in the representation of women of color within STEM fields. This study utilized…

In today's increasingly interconnected world, intercultural skills and global competence are essential for success in the workforce and society. Internationalization initiatives, such as student mobility, have emerged as effective ways to develop these skills. This study explored the experiences of Black students who participated in community…

Using a qualitative, naturalistic inquiry research design, and following the guide principles for conducting research with American Indian populations, this study explored how American Indian college students develop a sense of well-being as they pursue an associate degree in a rural community college. To understand well-being from an American…

An increasing number of international graduate students who learn English as an Additional Language (EAL) pursue advanced academic degrees in the United States. Previous studies have indicated that international graduate students often face several challenges as EAL learners while socializing in English academic communities and negotiating…

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of identity negotiation and capital in the context of first-generation college students' use of supports in community college and four-year institutions. The study followed Merriam's and Tisdell's (2016) basic interpretive design as the methodological approach. A sample of 17 participants were…

This study examined to what extent educators were able to find opportunities/experiences for personal and/or professional learning though their participation in Twitter Chats. This study also examined what drove educators to participate in Twitter Chats as a means to grow personally and/or professionally. Lastly, this study examined how…