How do people navigate institutional life together amid deep differences? Existing work highlights the mechanisms that drive and challenge exclusion and polarization, but these theories do not account for the moral frameworks, both implicit and explicit, that guide action. My dissertation brings tools from cultural and interactionist sociology to…

This study explores the underrepresentation of women in the public school superintendency, a role historically dominated by men, and examines the barriers and opportunities that shape women's pathways to this senior leadership position in education, as well as strategies they credit with helping them in their role. Using a qualitative,…

Dr. Marcia Gentry is a well-known researcher who contributed to the "equity" issue in the field of gifted and talented education. This study reviewed her peer-reviewed research articles to understand her lifelong works (i.e. publication year, collaboration rate with colleagues, journal types, percentage of articles related to equity…

Women have been underrepresented, and even excluded from academic life throughout history. As countries look to address ongoing inequality in academia, state-mandated gender quotas for academic boards and committees have emerged as a recommended practice in Europe. Although an increasing number of countries have adopted this policy model, little…

This quantitative study examines the outcomes of the Pre-Matriculation program at the University of Kansas Medical Center's School of Medicine, a pipeline initiative designed to equip students from historically underrepresented groups in medicine (HURM) with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in medical school. A student is considered…

Although an increase in their participation could reduce workforce shortages and diversify innovations in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, African American women remain significantly underrepresented in male-dominated AEC careers. Furthermore, partly due to the lack of early and meaningful AEC exposure, African…

U.S. school achievement has been the subject of much discussion. In the case of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), the national underperformance across the country, as well as the underrepresentation of minorities are key issues (Anderson et al., 2023; Handelsman & Smith, 2016; National Research Council, 2015; The…

Black boys in K-12 education are disproportionately subjected to suspensions and expulsions, impeding their academic progress, personal development, and self-perception and perpetuating a cycle of systemic marginalization. This study explored this urgent matter through the perspective of my Black son, Kyree, whose narratives provide insight into…

The population of English Language Learners (ELLs) enrolled in kindergarten to second grade (K-2) in the Southern region of the United States has increased. K-2 teachers are challenged to serve ELLs in the regular education classroom and students are often being referred for special education services. There needs to be more literature on the…

According to the Civil Rights Data Collection, during the most recent data collection for 2020-2021, Black girls were nationally represented in gifted education at 9%. While White girls were defined at 55%, Hispanic/Latina girls at 19%, and Asian girls at 10%, Black girls appear in gifted education as the most underrepresented major subgroup in…

The objective of this research was to explore the underlying reasons for the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions in higher education in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. Women's leadership is more prevalent in developed countries, while it is significantly lacking in developing countries. The KP province of…

Even as Canadian universities suggest their gender issues have largely been resolved, many women in academia tell a different story. Systemic discrimination, the underrepresentation of women in more senior and lucrative roles, and the belief that gender-related concerns will simply self-correct with greater representation at the lower rungs of the…

"School Segregation on School Report Cards: Who Are We Grading Anyway?," released by the Urban Institute, considers the impact of proposed legislation that would add a measure of segregation to the state accountability system in North Carolina. The legislation would assign a "proportionality score" to schools, measuring how…

Physics is a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics discipline in which women are severely underrepresented. Prior work has identified motivation-based explanations for low participation and retention rates of women in physics. Among various motivational factors, intelligence mindsets (i.e., having fixed or growth mindsets) have been…

Underrepresented minority (URM) faculty hold about 10% of tenured positions, despite URM comprising more than 30% of the United States population; thus, disparities remain in the recruitment, development, retention and promotion of diverse faculty in large part because of a lack of mentoring. Research suggests that mentoring from senior URM…