Information Literacy (IL) is vitally important for student success among college students. Graduate students are often assumed to have basic information literacy skills, but research has shown that this isn't always the case ((Bussell et al., 2017; Lamb, 2017, Hebert, 2018, Xie & Savory, 2022; Robertson & Felicilda-Reynaldo, 2015; Click,…

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are highly stigmatized health conditions, exhibiting significant disparities in prevalence at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities (Eisenberg et al., 2022; Jones et al., 2021; Wakeman & Rich, 2018). This pervasive stigmatization represents a profound social injustice and public health crisis,…

This dissertation explores the transformative impact of short-term study away courses on women's leadership development in graduate education. Through a qualitative, case study approach, it investigates the experiences of women graduate students (n = 8) participating in an all-women study away course, aiming to uncover the factors that contribute…

The problem addressed in this study was that African American women do not receive adequate academic mentoring to complete graduate school. The purpose of the qualitative case study was to identify the effect of academic mentoring on African American female graduate students. A qualitative exploratory case study approach was selected to gain a…

Graduate student professional development initiatives aim to prepare future faculty for college-level teaching. One such program is the Certificate in College Teaching (CCT). CCT programs provide graduate students with foundational knowledge and authentic teaching experiences to prepare them to design and deliver instruction at the college level.…

Online graduate degree program offerings are increasing in popularity, and online graduate students need support to acclimate to their degree programs. Online orientations have been effective in undergraduate programs; however, there is limited research on the effectiveness of online orientations in online graduate degree programs. The problem…

Purpose and Method of Study: The purpose of this qualitative transcendental (descriptive) phenomenological study was to investigate and document the lived experiences of African American (AA) female graduate students utilizing Afrocentric mentoring paradigms at PWIs. I examined the challenges caused by institutional racism in PWIs and whether…

Graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) are an important teaching resource to universities. Most GTAs enter graduate school with limited if any teaching experience but are given the responsibility of teaching numerous sections of introductory courses. GTA professional development (PD) is essential for the formation and preparation of these novice…

As the rates of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) increase, so does the need to provide high-quality and empirically validated supports across the lifespan. Despite most of an individual's life taking place in adulthood, it is well-documented that the supports and services for adults with ASD are severely lacking. This is evidenced by outcomes…

Mentorship between faculty members and graduate students is critical for students' success, especially when it includes career and psychosocial support (Byars-Winston & Lund Dahlberg, 2019; Crisp & Cruz, 2009; Paglis et al., 2006). When mentors offer both types of support, mentees benefit in professional and personal ways (Gardiner et al.,…

In this mixed-method study, the researchers examined the perception of the effectiveness of a mentorship program at Hopewell University. The researchers collected data through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with current and past students who had completed the graduate program in educational leadership. They also conducted interviews…

In this mixed-method study, the researchers examined the perception of the effectiveness of a mentorship program at Hopewell University. The researchers collected data through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with current and past students who had completed the graduate program in educational leadership. They also conducted interviews…

In this mixed-method study, the researchers examined the perception of the effectiveness of a mentorship program at Hopewell University. The researchers collected data through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with current and past students who had completed the graduate program in educational leadership. They also conducted interviews…

This dissertation comprises three complementary studies that aim to advance the understanding and practice of Individualized Education Programs (IEP) and Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) development in special education. In the first study, we systematically reviewed empirical research measuring IEP…

The problem addressed in this study was that online graduate students are not always clear about the role that academic support may serve in their online education, which may contribute to them not seeking support, even when it is needed. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory single case study was to explore student and coach perceptions…