Though research efforts have been conducted to understand the strategies to increase female participation in STEM and relevant areas, including the construction field, still the desired outcomes have not been forthcoming. This study proposes to explore the innovative use of 360-degree immersive environments powered by virtual characters to tell…

Several studies have focused on how in-person informal CS learning programs like summer camps and after-school programs impact Black girls' intent to persist in Computer Science; however, virtual informal CS learning programs remain to be studied. This mixed-methods study uses Intersectional Computing and Social Cognitive Career Theory to examine…

The two studies in this dissertation identify and address two related research gaps in literature on healthcare virtual support communities. Study one suggested that the exclusive emphasis on social support behavior and its impacts on individual well-being in virtual support communities has led to the neglect of another type of social interaction…