Historically, there has been more research available regarding how study abroad students experience culture shock versus how they experience reverse culture shock upon returning home. However, research has shown that reverse culture shock can often be more difficult to navigate than the initial culture shock students experience. By reason of that…

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory study was to explore, with former study abroad participants, their perceptions of how their experience abroad has influenced them. The results of the study provide recommendations to prospective study abroad participants and to those that develop and advise for programs. Ultimately, the recommendations…

Globally, nationally, regionally, and locally, we are facing a population shift. The number of individuals aged 65 and older will increase exponentially in the coming years, particularly for racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse groups. People are living longer but not necessarily healthier lives. This increase in longevity, coupled with a…

My dissertation examines the marketization of higher education, drawing on empirical case studies from Taiwanese students using "education agents" to apply to U.S. colleges and universities. I argue that without these intermediary agents, applicants and parents may be left flying blindly amid uncertainties, emotional distress, and…

In this increasingly competitive global society, the expectations held by parents for children's academic success have grown more intense. Despite the established research indicating a positive association between parental expectations and children's academic outcomes, the extent to which these expectations influence children's socioemotional…

Fixed and growth mindsets describe the underlying beliefs people have about human capacity to grow (Dweck, 2006). The theoretical framework of growth mindset classroom cultures (Murphy et al., 2021) as interpreted in the context of music education provided a solid foundation. This qualitative multiple case study explored the mindset construct and…

As the cultural climate in American higher education continues to evolve, there is an inherent need to adjust curriculum and educational perceptions to better assist American students in operating in a global context. Furthermore, the current cultural and political landscape in the United States has magnified the need for students attending…

Study abroad is an increasingly popular component of higher education, thought to promote global citizenship ideals, including the cultural and linguistic competence needed to succeed in a globalized world. While much research has focused on student learning outcomes, scholars have discovered that simply living and studying abroad is not a…

This study examines what undergraduate students say they learn about engaging with difference and across cultures in the Michigan Union and the Trotter Multicultural Center at the University of Michigan, a historically white institution. The University of Michigan is a historically white institution because of its majority of white students,…

Universities rely on the enrollment of international students who typically pay full tuition. Chinese international students make up the largest population of international students attending universities in the United States. At a midsize public college in the Northeast, the demand for career counseling support from international students is…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate the perceived cultural responsiveness in clinical practice among SLP graduates in South Florida. A total of eight Speech-Language Pathologists (ages 28-42 years old) from South Florida who graduated between 2021 and 2023 were interviewed using a semi-structured interview protocol. The…

This narrative-based qualitative research investigated the distinct journeys of eight cross-cultural artists (four artists from South Korea and four artists from China). Utilizing a variety of theoretical frameworks surrounding cross-cultural research, this dissertation examined current discussions on cross-cultural challenges and their…

Engagement unites the home and school as a partnership, elevating parents' roles as vital voices in the school and mitigating barriers to engagement. This current research aimed to fill a gap in the literature by investigating parent engagement from the perspective of the administrators as well as the parent in the context of their…

This study used self-curated photo elicitation to express students' awareness of power, privilege, and identity. The purpose of this qualitative research was to explore how female undergraduate students interacted with their environment and conceptualized a critical understanding of global citizenship. As such, this inquiry asked: (1) To what…

This study is a quantitative and qualitative investigation of the benefits and challenges in the international graduate student-faculty advisor relationship. Despite considerable research regarding these benefits and challenges, there are few studies about the academic and professional relationships between international graduate students and…