The study of engagement has become recognized by engagement researchers, educational practitioners, and administrative policy makers as having the potential for offering solutions to many of the concerns associated with aspects of modern formal learning environments. Engagement may afford protective aspects for students who have (or are in danger…

The current study utilized a social learning and achievement goal theory framework to examine and explicate the relationship between multidimensional perfectionism and psychological distress, and the moderating effect of two types of motivational climate among Division I-III student-athletes. Results indicated nonsignificant interaction effects…

Microaggressions are daily insults to individuals that communicate messages of exclusion, inferiority, and abnormality. The term microaggression was originally used to explain the experiences of racial minorities. This term has also been used to explain the experiences of other individuals with oppressed identities. More recently, the term ableist…

The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between two constructs that have been linked to improved teaching experiences and increased academic achievement in schools: academic optimism and teacher flow. While both concepts have been studied at length, there has been only one study to date that has been conducted on the relationship…

Medical error is the cause of an estimated 98,000 to 210,000 deaths in the United States each year. Medical error recovery involves the application of clinical judgment to recognize, identify, and implement the actions needed to prevent patient injury or mitigate patient harm. This basic qualitative study explored senior BSN students' experience…

This dissertation explores the effectiveness of both narrative therapy and art therapy practices incorporated into a participatory action research (PAR) project to foster alternate stories of hope in addressing bullying and other aggressive actions. Results indicate that narrative therapy, when incorporated into a PAR design, can assist with the…

As schools redefine their role to include the social-emotional needs of students, it is imperative that they simultaneously reflect on the adults in the building and the way that they embody and model the traits they are hoping to instill in students. This exploratory qualitative study looks specifically at the way that school leaders perceive and…

The present study examined the effectiveness of a curriculum-embedded, asynchronously delivered gratitude intervention with a first-year college student sample. Hypotheses included that the gratitude intervention would lead to decreased levels of depression, anxiety, and stress and increased feelings of gratitude and psychological…

Because the dominant narrative in the media around teachers is fixated on the burnout and unhappiness they are experiencing, this dissertation study explored the joy female Critical Teachers of Color experienced while teaching during the COVID-19 global pandemic. In this qualitative study, I employed both autoethnography and portraitures as a way…

Adult learners represent a growing population of students seeking postsecondary education. This qualitative investigation sought to understand the lived experience of the adult learner during matriculation. Through the use of semi-structured questions, 15 newly enrolled adult learners participated in a private, one-on-one interview to describe…

This mixed methods case study examined how a student success program at a private four-year college in the eastern region of the United States may enhance student success and students' associated feelings of a sense of belonging. Results and findings add to the overall student success literature and may benefit other institutions in higher…

Despite an increasing understanding of how underlying systems of oppression show up and operate in STEM classrooms, little is known about how Black joy and reauthoring can be utilized in supporting Black youths' navigation of oppressive, anti-Black systems as STEM learners. Partnering with community educators, scholars, and middle and high school…

This study analyzes the reasons for stop out behavior in a first-year composition class. The study was intended to be mixed methods, but the quantitative data, which was to be collected via survey, yielded too low of an n-value to allow for statistical analysis; therefore, case study research, analyzed through a social context framework, was…

This dissertation focuses on the role of tradition and ritual in historically Black education, particularly combating the legacy of antiblackness in school discipline. The study argues for the use of prophetic disruptive rituals that are grounded in meaning, hope, and love. Using Morehouse College as a philosophical case study, the project draws…

The observation and supervision of New Jersey educators stand as a critical professional component to ensure that school staff is provided with timely feedback about their performance and recommendations and support for continual improvement. As a result of the TeachNJ Act (2012), efforts were made to formalize this process across New Jersey's…