Historically, physics has been a predominantly male field, with previous literature showing that there is little diversity among U.S. physics students at the undergraduate and graduate levels or among physicists within the work force. Recent research indicates that the lack of diversity in physics is partially due to an unwelcoming climate within…

There is a lack of information regarding the motivational experiences of Arab women undergraduate students in STEM fields in the US and the factors that contribute to their engagement and persistence in this field. This is because of their categorization as white on census documents, which renders them invisible. Research has shown that…

First-generation students cope with challenges deriving from a lack of knowledge regarding higher education. This lack of knowledge is particularly relevant for minorities groups. In this context, parental involvement can be regarded as a meaningful pathway for enrolment and advancement in higher education. The study examined the perceptions of…

This review of research conducted between March 2020-April 2023 summarizes the impact of COVID-19 on the learning and school experiences of children and adolescents with special educational needs and dis/abilities (SENDs) including youth with neurodevelopmental disorders, learning differences, intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities.…

Using narrative interviews, this study explored the experiences of belonging among eight first-generation college students (FGCS) who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). By applying Strayhorn's Belonging and Crenshaw's Intersectionality Framework, this study sheds light on the challenges and benefits BIPOC FGCS encounter as…

Despite the increasing attention given to veterans in higher education, few studies have explored the transitional experiences of women of color student veterans (WOCSVs). This study examines the gendered and racialized experiences of WOCSVs and the impact of their intersecting identities on the transition through higher education. Considering the…

Study abroad is often hailed as a unique and important learning experience that prepares students for life and work in a global society. Many benefits and learning outcomes such as language learning, personal growth and development, educational and career attainment, and the development of intercultural competence are ascribed to study abroad.…

This action research project centers the narratives of women and nonbinary students of color as they navigate leadership roles within student government at Ivy League institutions. The overarching aim of the project is to develop an understanding of the barriers to participation for women and nonbinary students of color and collaboratively…

The COVID-19 global pandemic provided an opportunity to reassess pedagogies, practices, and policies in higher education. In this dissertation, I explored the experiences of undergraduate and graduate students with dis/abilities (SWDs) in higher education before and during the COVID-19 global pandemic. The first manuscript is a descriptive study…

Students of color and students with disabilities are two underserved populations in our educational systems. At the intersection of these groups is a new subgroup: special education students of color (SESOC), who are highly underserved in schools. The experiences and perspectives of teachers of color who serve special education students of color…

The principles presented by the deficit model (Tinto, 1975) asserted that low socioeconomic (SES) minority post-secondary students failed to persist and successfully achieve graduation as a result of their inherent deficits. Sherman and Tinto (1975) posited that social and cultural capital deficiencies resulted in high attrition and low…

This qualitative research study explored current graduate students with disabilities personal and academic experiences. The three theoretical frameworks utilized were Disability Studies in Education (DSE), intersectionality and Disability Critical Race Theory (DisCrit) to connect how race, gender, sexual orientation, and disability identities…

Internationalization continues to be a priority of the education mandate in British Columbia (BC). While there is currently a lack of exploratory studies on international students' (IS) experiences of challenges in their host institutions, little research has examined their experiences from sociocultural context-based standpoints. This study fills…

Alumni of selective graduate programs, such as those from top business and law schools, have high lifetime earnings and are overrepresented in influential positions in society. Given limitations in nationally representative datasets, many existing studies of graduate school enrollment in the literature focus only on the United States and collapse…

This narrative study examined what led two Students of Color to enroll in General Educational Development (GED) classes and how their race impacted their educational decisions. The study took place in an adult education facility located in central Connecticut in winter 2018. One research question guided this inquiry: What are the experiences of…