Inequities in STEM persist, notably in underrepresented groups relating to gender, race, socio-economic status, and disability. The purpose of this study was to explore correlations between STEM identities, personal identities, mentor-related experiences, and academic/career persistence of undergraduate students in Idaho public post-secondary…

This qualitative case study explored the experiences of staff and student participants in a men of color program at one California community college. The research aimed to understand how program staff creates environments conducive to exploring masculine identity among men of color. Grounded in validation theory and the multiple masculinities…

In today's complex workplace, organizations have implemented mentoring programs to serve the needs of employees by providing career development and personal support. Mentoring relationships provide a variety of vocational, psychosocial and role modeling functions to proteges. Previous educational psychology research has examined the role of…

It is essential that all students who are interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) have the motivational supports to persist in their STEM career trajectories. "STEM role models," or successful individuals in STEM, can be powerful tools to motivate college students towards STEM careers, particularly if students…

The focus of the study was to understand how African American men who achieved leadership positions in Power 5 NCAA Division I schools constructed their stories about the influence and benefits of role models in their career pursuits. Semistructured interviews were used to gather in-depth information from five to 15 African Americans in athletic…

Institutions of higher learning generally seek to provide students with experiential learning, professional development, and tools for contributing to a diverse global society. However, many students are not able to connect their learning to their career interest. As a result, graduates do not feel confident that they have acquired the job…

Black males continue to be underrepresented in post-secondary education and also routinely identify as first-generation college students (FGCS) once they arrive on campus (Camardelle et al., 2022; RIT International, 2019). Historically, research surrounding FGCS has utilized a deficit-based framework which presents FGCS, in comparison to their…

This qualitative study considered how adventure education leaders can utilize the natural outdoor environment combined with appropriate leadership techniques to catalyze spiritual experiences among participants. Considerations included the impact of outdoor adventure best practices as well as the effects of situational leadership behaviors,…

Many women leave higher education and the workforce due to inadequate support after childbirth, as student affairs units often struggle to create family-friendly environments. The purpose of this narrative inquiry qualitative study was to understand why and how mothers who work in student affairs choose to stay after having children. This study…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the ways in which LGBTQ+ students at the University of Miami make meaning of their shared experiences in the LGBTQ+ Mentorship Program that the university offers, in order to explore ways in which higher education institutions might consider better supporting this key group of students.…

This phenomenological qualitative study addressed the problem of high attrition of Black students from nursing programs, which has remained consistent for many years. Black students have consistently had a higher rate of attrition from nursing programs than their White counterparts over the years. Utilizing the theory of integration, critical race…

Higher education institutions' success relies on student retention and graduation rates, especially among underrepresented minority (URM) groups, where persistent disparities exist. This dissertation focuses on URM Division I student-athletes, often overlooked despite their significant influence within universities. Notably, academic success gaps…

Similar-identity role models, including instructors, can benefit science undergraduates by enhancing their self-efficacy and sense of belonging. However, for students to have similar-identity role models based on identities that can be hidden, instructors need to disclose their identities. For concealable stigmatized identities (CSIs) - identities…

This study explores the factors influencing women's enrollment, experiences, and retention within the Applied Science Engineering (ASE) program at Rutgers University. Amidst the broader context of women's underrepresentation in engineering fields, this research aims to elucidate the complex interplay of personal, familial, academic, and social…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate college students' beliefs of their parents' role in influencing their character development, and of their own character in influencing their college academic achievement. Two research questions guided the study: (1) What are college students' beliefs about how parental role modeling…