Introduction: This mixed-method longitudinal study examined American adolescents' meaning making of salient COVID-19 pandemic events. Method: Within phone interviews, adolescents (N = 124, M[subscript age] = 15.76 years; 46% Latine) narrated their most emotionally impactful pandemic experience at two time points ~30 days apart between July 2020…

The purpose of this action research study was to assist students coping with the pressures of attending a high achieving school by devising and implementing a seven-week mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) to raise overall student well-being. Additionally, it was hoped that the students would use the mindfulness techniques as positive coping…

School leaders' resilience is best built as a collective effort, write Soraya Sablo Sutton and Nate Gong. The "Change Makers" program at UC Berkeley's Principal Leadership Institute gave school leaders across California the opportunity to work together to solve problems of practice and build their collective resilience--a key to…

High school students' lack of coping skills can be detrimental to their wellbeing, which has created a need for interventions in the educational system. A review of the literature provided evidence supporting the feasibility and effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for adolescents. This study examined if and to what extent a difference…

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure college students' coping strategies and change of lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: Students from the State University in California were recruited during July 2020. Methods: A total of 11 focus group meetings were conducted. Results: Students' coping strategies were analyzed…

This qualitative study examined the stories of women of color (WOC) executive leaders working on a California State University (CSU) campus, exploring how they have achieved success and persevered in the face of systemic barriers. Drawing on in-depth interviews with eight WOC leaders, this dissertation explored their individual experiences and…

Black women administrators should be included in the discourse around experiences in leadership on their campuses, understanding these experiences will shed light not only on how to develop and retain this group, but also on these additional needs of this group. The experience of Black women administrators is a topic that has not been studied…

In 2020, the US was consumed by the COVID-19 pandemic and racial justice protests. California was further compounded by a devastating fall wildfire season. Negative effects related to these events have been documented in research. Objective: This study sought to expand the literature by exploring areas of personal growth and development among…

Objectives: To learn about the mental health of students, the tools they use to cope with stress, and their perceptions toward the assistance they receive from their academic institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: 593 students from two University of California campuses. Methods: The link to an anonymous survey was included in a…

In the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a sudden shift to remote learning in schools across the United States, profoundly impacting marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ students. This qualitative study explores the experiences of Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) advisors during this period. Drawing on interviews with 10…

Introduction: There is evidence of a gap between individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who need treatment for self-injurious behavior (SIB) and those who receive treatment. The purpose of this study (n = 15) was to begin to understand the treatment gap from the perspective of family caregivers. Methods: In…

Cognitive behavioral therapy and other forms of rehabilitative programming are currently available for nearly all criminogenic needs. However, there is limited rehabilitative programming available for sexual offenders with minor victims. In order to develop effective programming within future research, the underlying motivations must be explored.…

The purpose of this study was to estimate the effects of a theoretical model encompassing psychological theories underlying student retention in postsecondary education. New conceptual operationalizations were applied to elaborate Bean and Eaton's theoretical model of student retention. The influences of student entry characteristics,…

This study examined the association between COVID-19 psychological distress and mental health symptoms as moderated by social support among 107 Hispanic undergraduates at a large public Hispanic-Serving Institution in Southern California. Results indicated pandemic distress was positively, and social support was negatively, associated with mental…

The COVID-19 pandemic has had lasting effects on teacher education, particularly in California, where policy shifts in credentialing requirements during the pandemic have impacted teacher preparation programs (TPPs). This case study investigated the experiences of teacher candidates during the pandemic and their preparedness for post-pandemic K-12…