Engaging in a variety of occupations daily can support university students in feeling a sense of balance and satisfaction in their lives. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an occupational balance education module on improving the life satisfaction and occupational balance of university students ages 18-22 in a public university in…

A shortage of professional mariners to work onboard commercial vessels exists in the United States and in the world commercial fleets. State maritime academies graduate third mates and third assistant engineers ready to take up these positions, yet even after their training, not all choose to do so. The purpose of this study was to understand how…

High school counselors have an opportunity to positively impact the lives of students and support their personal, academic, and career goals. With the increased attention on student's social and emotional learning, it is important not to overlook the wellbeing of school counselors who work with these students daily. Many studies have focused on…

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of second-choice homeschoolers in West Virginia with forced remote learning and homeschooling during the COVID-19 pandemic. The label second-choice homeschoolers in this research refers to homeschooling families in West Virginia who have first-hand…

Women comprise most of the professionals in student affairs in higher education in the United States. They are tasked with supporting students and campus communities with complex challenges and needs. Women student affairs leaders simultaneously manage multiple roles and responsibilities, both personal and professional. The work of women student…

The study aimed to examine the stress in educators and how performance evaluations may be impacted. It examined the stress indicators of educators in South Dakota, using the Charlotte Danielson Framework for Teaching (FFT). The focus of the study was based on five connected themes. Those themes were increased responsibilities, limited personal and…

This dissertation explores the intricate interplay of presidential priorities in the evolving landscape of higher education, particularly within the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). Over the past 15 years, college presidents have confronted various challenges, from budget constraints and racial tensions to employee engagement…

This study investigates the material-discursive contexts available for lactation-pumping--amongst U.S. teachers who wish to continue nursing [a] child(ren) upon returning full-time to the classroom. Guided by critical feminist methodologies, I conducted interviews and focus groups with 11 teacher-parents who chose to lactate or nurse their infants…

The impact of work-life balance is imposing a significant strain on faculty in higher education. Much of the literature suggests faculty are not satisfied with their jobs and do not feel a sense of belonging, and the results show negative impacts on faculty well-being. Results from a 2015 Gallup survey of faculty workplace engagement showed…

This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore the experiences of female superintendents in leadership positions, focusing on the opportunities and barriers they faced on the journey to the superintendency and in the position of superintendent. Women are underrepresented in the superintendency in the female-dominated educational field.…

The contexts of fatherhood in the 21[superscript st] -century are leading to meaningful changes in responsibilities for fathers. These changes are welcomed by many and benefit the family unit in many ways. However, nontraditional doctoral student fathers pursuing a doctorate and maintaining full-time employment face numerous challenges as they…

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between work-life balance and faculty perceptions of promotions in academia using Vroom's (1964) Expectancy Theory of Motivation as the theoretical framework. The study was conducted at two universities in the Southeast, and all faculty were invited to participate in an online survey.…

Using an appreciative inquiry framework, this qualitative participatory research study identified opportunities to foster a more positive and sustainable work culture for parent-identified student affairs staff and beyond, built on existing elements that support thriving and work-life harmony in the profession. Participants self-selected to attend…

The primary focus of research on information and communication technologies (ICTs) and work-life interrelationships has been on traditional office work. However, occupations such as teaching are worthwhile to study because they are structured differently than a traditional office given that students are the direct consumers of teacher labor. There…

This phenomenological study aimed to examine the perspective of teacher experiences that affected their absenteeism in a specific school district in Pennsylvania. Participants were asked, via semi-structured interview protocols, to report on the experiences of absenteeism and how these experiences affected their decision to be absent from the…