This dissertation examines the interaction patterns that happen in an online learning environment. While many studies look at online learning through the lens of the learner or the learning environment, few studies look at the interaction patterns that happen through the digital traces captured by computational tools. Based on the conceptual…

This study explored the experiences of grieving first-year college students. Previous research has suggested that grieving students may make up between 37% and 44% of college students (Cousins et al., 2017). Previous research has also documented that grieving college students may experience higher levels of anxiety, psychosocial distress, and…

The phenomenological research study explores the lived experience of Black first-generation college students navigating the financial aid process to understand how they experience the process of using financial aid to pay for college through degree attainment. Higher education is aligned with social and occupational mobility. Financial aid has its…

While the capstone experience of student teaching is sometimes perceived as a time where everything from one's teacher preparation neatly comes together, that is often not the case. Student teachers frequently find themselves positioned at the intersection of competing discourses as they consider: who am I, and what does that mean for how I teach?…

High school students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) are more likely than their non-LGBTQ+ peers to experience victimization, bullying, and are at a high rate for experiencing suicidal thoughts. The purpose of this study is to better understand positive and affirming experiences related to a…

International students in a Japanese university struggled with issues of loneliness, lack of belonging, and feelings of not mattering. These issues inhibited their ability to form friendships with domestic students. This study sought to investigate causes and find actionable solutions to international student social networking issues. Participants…

Although students with specific learning disabilities are graduating from high school and being accepted into college at higher rates, research shows that the majority of these students are unsuccessful at the collegiate level (Alvarez-Perez et al., 2012; Connor, 2009; Gil, 2007; Lightfoot et al., 2018; Newman et al., 2011). This study is…

My dissertation explores the higher education transition decisions made by senior high school students from diverse social backgrounds in Chile. I examine how family, school, and the broader institutional and political context interact with and influence these decisions during times of major social changes and educational reform. Through a…

Teachers are subject to multiple stressors in their profession and often experience significant distress, which has been found to be linked with harsh and punitive behaviors. These behaviors have been found to influence students negatively, particularly those with vulnerable temperaments. Prior research has also found such negative teacher…

The future of individual and societal progress is largely dependent on students' success following completion of K-12 education. For most traditionally aged students, this entails a journey into higher education at colleges and universities. This transition is rife with pitfalls that may lead students to stop out, fail out, or make inadequate…

The Impact of Facebook-based Dissertation Support Groups on the Sense of Belonging and Community Among PhD Students. This dissertation addresses the feelings of isolation and lack of support doctoral students feel during their doctoral journey, which results in a high attrition rate. The study explores the role of Facebook-based dissertation…

This qualitative multiple-case study provides insight into the experiences of English language learners (ELLs) attending classes in a community college setting. Community colleges in the US play a significant role in the access to higher education for ELLs, a sizable student population that includes US high school graduates, adult immigrants,…

As a result of constantly grappling with systemic forces of oppression such as racism, ableism, and disablism Latinx students with dis/abilities may experience anxiety, loneliness, and frustration in higher education contexts. Social support has been shown to improve the health, well-being, and persistence for Latinx college students and college…

The purpose of this narrative inquiry study was to understand the experiences of first generation working class students/graduates as they navigated the transition from the K-12 system into the postsecondary degree-granting institution. This study aimed to explore the academic preparation, including the attainment of social and cultural capital,…

Latinx students are making educational gains; however, disparities persist for traditionally marginalized groups. Informed by LatCrit and using Yosso's Community Cultural Wealth model, this study highlights the disparities and societal inequities that Latinx students face while illuminating their cultural assets. Twenty Latinx college students…