Academics in Higher Education are often expected both to teach and to research; this is a particular challenge for women both structurally and individually. Initiatives to address structural issues include AdvanceHE. Here, we focus on individual issues and report on the Programme for Women Achieving Excellence in Research, a theory-based…

The purpose of this study was to collaborate with School-Based Agriscience Education (SBAE) teachers who identify as LGBTQ+ to examine the unique interactions between their chosen career and their sexual and/or gender minority identities. This phenomenology utilized queer theory to analyze data from semi-structured interviews with individuals who…

Resilience--the ability to persist, bounce back, and achieve, despite setbacks or challenges--is an important predictive and protective factor for university students' personal and academic success. Qualitative research at one large U.S. land-grant university investigated faculty and student perceptions of how and why academic service-learning…

While health and wellness education can positively impact preservice teachers' beliefs and attitudes and the students they teach, barriers exist for preservice teachers in taking on this role, including a lack of formal education. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 preservice teachers to determine the perspectives of preservice…

Objective: As an increasing number of children are identified as insufficiently physically active, the school environment has been targeted for efforts to promote physical activity (PA) among inactive children. While research has highlighted teachers' role in promoting generic school-based daily PA, less is known about the early childhood…

Girls' participation in STEM careers remains low despite global efforts to close the gender gap. This study examines the factors influencing girls' pursuit of STEM-related careers in three public universities in Ghana, focusing on parental educational attainment, parental involvement, career counselling, and exposure to role models. Using the…

This study explored the role of social media on the career choices of Asian American students, particularly those opting for non-STEM fields, drawing on qualitative data from a sample of 12 participants. The findings revealed that social media exerted both positive and negative influences on career development. Positive influences included…

In this study, I used a qualitative methodology to investigate the experiences of long-serving Black teachers in American public schools, illuminating their ongoing dedication to the field despite many institutional challenges. Through interviews with these long-serving educators, the study aimed to answer the research question: "What were…

In cyber charter schools, middle-school students face many barriers to developing STEM identity. My theory of improvement was to address sense of belonging in a large virtual classroom to develop STEM identity in my students. By utilizing diverse STEM role models that reflected my students' racial or ethnic identities and an inquiry-based approach…

This qualitative case study explores the perceptions of school leadership that future school counselors have regarding leadership roles for women in rural Appalachia. Using a feminist-geographical lens, several cultural, economic, geographic, and identity-based themes were found. Participants' definitions of ideal school leadership included strong…

This dissertation explores the issue of minority underrepresentation in K-12 educational leadership roles, examining its perceived causes and implications within academic settings. The research utilized a qualitative approach involving detailed surveys and interviews with school administrators from K-12 schools in Western North Carolina, Upstate…

Succeeding at university can be a complex matter, and the barriers are manifold for students with disabilities (SwDs). Accommodations are available for those with needs, but these alone do not meet the political goals of inclusive educations. Student ambassadors act as experienced representatives on campuses, supporting others and gaining…

To address the issue of gender disparity in participation in the physics state matriculation exam, a novel school visit program was designed. The program was facilitated by undergraduate university students of physics and related courses who visited schools providing lower secondary education and delivered a single-session workshop including…

This qualitative study aimed to understand the lived experience of marginalized young men who transformed from low academic achievement to academic success in obtaining post-secondary education. Boys have a long history of underperformance in secondary and post-secondary institutions, especially when they face additional barriers such as first…

Globally, a significant gender gap is reported in the enrolment of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Bangladesh reports one of the lowest female stakeholder percentages in STEM but has increased demand for skilled STEM professionals. Therefore, this qualitative study explores the experiences of undergraduate women…