Introduction: Friendships of adolescent girls play a significant role in providing socio-emotional support and enabling the attainment of developmental tasks. The present exploratory paper focuses on an aspect of close friendships that has yet to be widely examined, which we described as the Adverse Dyadic Friendship (ADF). This is a friendship…

This qualitative study is an exploration of how women in higher education information technology (IT) positions navigate constructing their leadership identities. This includes the messy, personal, internal identity work that occurs prior to claiming their leadership identities on the public stage, followed by an examination of what the experience…

This article explores the tension - in both positive and negative senses - of an aquarium's internal and external equity work. The article parses out this tension, especially reflecting on where the equity work lives, where it gets messy, and who is doing the work. It centers on the tensions around positionality for a woman of color initially…

This dissertation is an exploration of leader identity development and women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) college academic classrooms. While there continues to be research promoting diversity in STEM professions, women remain underrepresented in STEM disciplines, leadership positions, and for this specific study, the…

On February 1, 2019, Boy Scouts of America officially accepted girls into its signature program (ages 11-18) and changed its name to Scouts BSA. This historic shift provided a novel opportunity for researchers to investigate the experiences of some of the first 13 girls to enter this traditionally all-boy space and examine how participation…

Supporting the development of an antiracist identity in counselors could facilitate change toward equity, justice, and opportunity within the counseling profession and increase awareness of white counselors in working with clients of color. Understanding obstacles to and enablers of antiracist attitudes in white women counselors holds the…

Research in the field of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) focuses mainly on school-aged children and male participants. This has left substantial gaps in our understanding of the life course of autistic individuals, particularly autistic females, once they reach adulthood. The objective of this concise narrative review is to discuss the current…

This study explored how Black women described their experience pursuing a PhD for professional and personal growth. It aimed to provide a valuable resource for Black women considering or currently undertaking doctoral education by offering insights into the experiences of their peers. Furthermore, the research sought to inform decision-making…

The purpose of this intrinsic qualitative case study was to understand the meaning-making experiences and experienced-based decision making that occur among middle school girls while playing the tabletop role playing game Dungeons & Dragons through the online videoconferencing platform zoom. table-top games have been played in some form for…

Many developmental theories have not been sufficiently evaluated using designs that control for unobserved familial confounds. Our long-term goal is to determine the causal structure underlying associations between early environmental conditions and later psychosocial and health outcomes. Our overall objective in this study was to further evaluate…

Higher education institutions can provide a unique environment for helping college students identify their talents and develop their values toward the goal of being competent, conscience-driven individuals who contribute to the common good. Despite skeptics questioning the value of a college education by focusing on an ongoing litany of concerns…

The ongoing mental health crisis of children and adolescents was only worsened by the confluence of issues brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic (Hiebert & Kortes-Miller, 2021) with continued growing rates of anxiety and depression as well as elevations in suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm among today's youth (Reinert et al., 2021).…

In the next 20 years, the Hispanic student population is projected to become the dominant demographic in public schools in the United States. However, there is a significant shortage of Hispanic women in leadership roles in public education, notably in superintendent positions, underscoring the importance of examining the factors behind the…

This critical autoethnographic dissertation delves into the personal journey of a Black female counselor and mother, whose path meanders through the complex terrain of education, leading her to a profound transition into the realm of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) leadership. Drawing from memories, emotions, and ongoing…

Technology has crossed over into virtually all aspects of modern life. As a result, there has been a growing emphasis on cultivating a skilled workforce within Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) sectors. However, there continues to be a disparity in the representation of women of color within STEM fields. This study utilized…