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…

Supporting the development of an antiracist identity in counselors could facilitate change toward equity, justice, and opportunity within the counseling profession and increase awareness of white counselors in working with clients of color. Understanding obstacles to and enablers of antiracist attitudes in white women counselors holds the…

This study explored how Black women described their experience pursuing a PhD for professional and personal growth. It aimed to provide a valuable resource for Black women considering or currently undertaking doctoral education by offering insights into the experiences of their peers. Furthermore, the research sought to inform decision-making…

The purpose of this intrinsic qualitative case study was to understand the meaning-making experiences and experienced-based decision making that occur among middle school girls while playing the tabletop role playing game Dungeons & Dragons through the online videoconferencing platform zoom. table-top games have been played in some form for…

This constructivist grounded theory study conceptualized how White women educated at Jesuit colleges and universities and engaged in racial justice ally behavior developed their identities as White women and racial justice allies. Nine participants from six different Jesuit universities engaged with the researcher through two interviews and a…

Internalized oppression is a pervasive issue that disproportionately affects Women of Color in education. Continuous exposure to systemic oppression, such as sexism and racism, can further exacerbate existing internalized oppression (Crenshaw, 1991) and can result in severe implications on the overall emotional, physical, and spiritual health of…

Higher education institutions can provide a unique environment for helping college students identify their talents and develop their values toward the goal of being competent, conscience-driven individuals who contribute to the common good. Despite skeptics questioning the value of a college education by focusing on an ongoing litany of concerns…

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,…

The purpose of this narrative inquiry study was to 'come alongside' women educators who value and therefore spend extended periods of time outdoors to consider how they story those experiences and events, and, in doing so, to illuminate what their stories reveal about the influences of those experiences their worldviews, views of self, and…

In the next 20 years, the Hispanic student population is projected to become the dominant demographic in public schools in the United States. However, there is a significant shortage of Hispanic women in leadership roles in public education, notably in superintendent positions, underscoring the importance of examining the factors behind the…

This critical autoethnographic dissertation delves into the personal journey of a Black female counselor and mother, whose path meanders through the complex terrain of education, leading her to a profound transition into the realm of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) leadership. Drawing from memories, emotions, and ongoing…

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of social media, specifically Twitter, as a way for women in higher education to connect with one another. Seven women who developed a specific hashtag were interviewed in a semi-structured initial process followed by a reflective follow up. These interviews were transcribed, coded, and sent to the…

Black women have a unique process in forming their identities, because of the subordinated status of both their racial and gender identity. Black women in America have urged American society at large to understand the complexity and multidimensionality of the Black woman identity, due to issues of inequality being addressed through a single axis…

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…