The purpose of this project was to develop a training program at Hickory Grove Baptist Church to equip men for leadership. The focus of the training was to help men understand and demonstrate the principles of being a disciple of Christ who can make disciples so they can provide effective leadership within the church and in their homes. Chapter 1…

Increasing the diversity representation among students of color is a critical need in colleges and universities of today. Education institutions are tasked with implementing imaginative ways to recruit, retain, and graduate students of color, especially at Predominately White Institutions (PWIs). Multicultural mentorship programs at PWIs have been…

Digital literacy is a powerful tool for learners, and educational institutions and programs are tasked with the responsibility of developing frameworks, models, guidelines, or strategies within a digital literacy initiative to equip the learner. However, a lack of clarity and consensus on what constitutes digital literacy hinders developmental…

This study explored the ways that STEM faculty learn about, design, and implement inclusive STEM teaching practices to improve student belonging. An interpretive phenomenological approach was employed to understand the personal experiences and thought processes of faculty as they worked to further develop their understanding of issues of equity…

Educational intervention research addresses multiple barriers that under-sourced communities face in education. I test three methods to improve education program design and evaluation to develop programs that have substantial and lasting impacts on student outcomes. In my dissertation, I review current challenges to educational program evaluation…

A well-designed compliance program is necessary for higher education institutions (HEIs) of all sizes to mitigate the risks of severe penalties and reputational damage resulting from regulatory noncompliance. The U.S. Federal Sentencing Guidelines provide a broad framework comprised of the Seven Elements contributing to an effective compliance…

The research being conducted results from the teacher shortage in the Appoquinimink School District, across the State of Delaware and across the United States. There is an alarming teacher shortage in the United States causing a crisis in many states and local school districts. Low enrollment in postsecondary teacher preparation programs, and even…

Low financial literacy is a growing problem in young adults, which has effects throughout adulthood (Amagir et al., 2018). Record low personal savings rates, a shift toward increased personal responsibility for retirement, and increasing student loan balances put financial decision-making demands on young adults that have lifelong impacts (Lusardi…

This study focuses on the experiences and perceptions of faculty members who develop and lead study abroad programs for students enrolled in higher education institutions. Through qualitative case study inquiry, four questions are answered. First this study explores what motivates faculty members to become involved in the development and…

Utilizing a phenomenological approach, this dissertation explores how principals perceive and use their roles in developing and maintaining inclusive special education programs. Specifically, this study has examined principals' beliefs and ideals in decision-making to support inclusion in classrooms. Its goal is to provide insight into principals'…

Teacher retention continues to be a concern in public education. The concerns related to this negative trend were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and schools and school districts are finding themselves in a precarious position. Many states and local school districts are creatively utilizing alternative certification methods to increase the…

This program model describes the phases of planning, implementing, and evaluating a program designed for Tennessee public schools to manage student behavior in at-risk populations. This program model employs a hybrid asset-based community development, logic, and interactive model to implement interventions based on the principles of applied…

Purpose: The aim of this project is to determine if the development and implementation of an independent living skills workshop would improve the perceived competence of unhoused youth in performing independent living skills. Methods: The Casey Life Skills Short Assessment was used as a pre-test and post-test. It was found that unhoused young…

School choice has expanded during the modern school choice movement and students in Indiana can now choose from several school options including public schools, charter schools, virtual schools, or participate in the Indiana Choice Scholarships program and attend a parochial school. The potential for increased educational stratification across…

The estimated prevalence of neurodivergent (ND) conditions is approximately 15-20% of the population in the United States (Doyle, 2020; Maenner et al., 2023). ND students are increasingly enrolling in mainstream colleges and universities (Bakker et al., 2019) but report that they are not receiving adequate support on campus (Dexter et al., 2024;…