Alcohol use is widespread among college students. Previous studies have shown that stress and mental health conditions are common risk factors for college student alcohol use, while social support and self-efficacy have demonstrated a protective effect against college student alcohol use. Research has also demonstrated that alcohol use can have a…

Women experience an academic career differently than their male counterparts. Women enter academic careers at similar rates as men, but there are fewer women at higher ranks (associate and professor). Women also experience an academic career differently than men as identified in the variance in their time spent on the three pillars of an academic…

Although there is a growing body of research on retention of higher education students, there is a constant need for more because of ever-changing variables that affect attrition. With dynamic retention issues changing, new empirical research such as this study can be used to keep up with higher education attrition. The specific purpose of this…

This dissertation delved into the complex interaction between gender dynamics and leadership perceptions within outdoor recreation, particularly in the context of higher education. Utilizing Transformational Learning Theory, Critical Feminist Theory, and Conditional Outdoor Leadership Theory, this study aimed to uncover the nuanced ways in which…

For many years graduate and professional education programs for the health professions have sought to increase the diversity of their student body to include students from a wider variety of backgrounds. Increasing the diversity of healthcare providers is an essential component of addressing inequities in healthcare. However, despite initiatives…

Engineering students are expected to develop professional skills in addition to their technical knowledge as outcomes of accredited engineering programs. Among the most critical professional skills is the ability to work effectively in a team. Working effectively in teams has learning benefits and also provides an environment for developing other…

There is a steady decline in Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) graduation rates, especially from two-year institutions. These institutions have been an integral part of U.S. higher education system, and access for underrepresented groups has been a top priority in recent decades with the passing of specific legislation. Despite growing efforts to…

Male superintendents predominantly hold superintendency in K-12 public school districts in the southern United States. The research problem was the underrepresentation of female superintendents in K-12 public school districts. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how female superintendents perceive the underrepresentation of…

The recent increase in mental health concerns and service utilization for students has been characterized as the "mental health crisis in higher education." At the same time, there are social inequities on who "gets" to be well and under what conditions. This three-paper dissertation analyzes the well-being support networks of…

There is, a significant gender representation gap in higher education. Along similar lines are the aspect of hiring faculty that identify as female within an ethic minority group, despite the noted benefits of hiring a diverse faculty. Unfortunately, many studies on minority hiring do not differentiate between the two genders, as a result there is…

This study explored the factors that shape the power relationships that form through interactions within a given network. Specifically, this study examined the relationship between students' gender, race/ethnicity, first-generation status, their sense of agency, their posting time in online discussions, and the power status that each participant…

An underestimated 10.7 million of the 52.7 million US children (ages 0-17) living with two parents live in homes where male-to-female intimate partner violence (IPV) between adults has occurred in the last year. Children's exposure to IPV (EIPV) affects their behavior, development and educational outcomes. Adolescent's exposure and behavioral…

The achievement gaps between Black and white students in math and science have remained unchanged over the last decade. Additionally, disparities in academic achievement and academic outcomes, like dropout, have persisted across genders. Existing research has explored the intricacies of various forms of identity -- namely racial and gender…

Undeclared students choose their major while enrolled in college, but major choice can have long-term implications on social mobility, career path, and lifetime earnings. Identity can play a role in the major selected by an undeclared student. This research analyzed the relationship between identity and major selection for undecided students to…

Building a culturally responsive school allows for teachers to expand their teaching practices to individualize instruction based on students' culture and background. Teachers must do this even more so now as many students have suffered severe learning loss due to school closures during the pandemic. Culturally Responsive Teaching allow teachers…