Education abroad personnel have relied on a 30+ years old rationale that Black and Latinx students participate in college study abroad programs at a lower rate than their white peers due to cultural differences attributed to the backgrounds of Black and Latinx students. Despite contemporary guidance from education scholars to move beyond this…

An increasing number of students in the United States identify as Hispanic or Latino/a. These students enter American classrooms from varying backgrounds with diverse talents. Many of these students are proficient in at least two languages. Unfortunately, Hispanic students are underrepresented in gifted and talented programs, nationwide. The…

This dissertation examines the impact of restorative practices on reducing discipline disparities among Latino youth in educational settings. Historically, Latino students have faced educational and socioeconomic inequalities that have resulted in reduced academic opportunities, lower graduation rates, and a persistent cycle of poverty. While…

The purpose of this non-experimental correlational quantitative study was to examine the relationship between race and special education under the disability category of ED for kindergarten through 12th-grade students in four school districts in the greater Houston area. The study had three research questions regarding racial representation, the…

Hispanic female students are the minority population when it comes to taking higher level classes in the Science Technology Engineering and Math fields. According to Hinojosa, Rapaport, Jaciw, and Zacamy (2016), "STEM fields are defined here as majors in computer and information sciences, engineering and engineering technologies, biological…

Purpose: This study aims to gain a deeper understanding of culturally responsive classroom management (CRCM) skills and practices and explores to what extent asset-based approaches to education, specifically CRCM, have the potential to disrupt negative discipline outcomes at the classroom level and reduce discipline disparities for Latino/a…

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that lead to the disproportionality of the graduation rates of African American and Latinx students at College X. This qualitative case study utilized interviews with faculty, staff, and administrators, document analysis, and site observations to study a small Midwestern college, College X.…

Despite various initiatives to enhance diversity in STEM disciplines, women and minorities remain underrepresented (Gonzalez et al., 2021, Chapter 5). Higher education institutions can help enhance gender and racial equity in STEM disciplines in the U.S. (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, & Medicine, 2011). This study's purpose was…

The Latino population is a rapidly growing group in California, yet the rates of Latino student athletes competing at the NCAA Division I level is maintaining an alarmingly low percentage. The discrepancy in these numbers continues to have a substantial impact on the college completion rate of Latino students. The problem addressed in this study…

The continuous underrepresentation of the Latinx population in STEM fields and careers requires urgent attention. This study addresses this issue by designing and implementing a science curriculum based on culturally relevant and translanguaging pedagogies. Focusing on chemical and physical reactions, the curriculum was implemented in two…

Underrepresentation of Latina college students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) remains a challenge, even though Latinx students are attending college at an increased rate. While various of the obstacles identified by them mirrored some of the issues highlighted in prior studies, the participants found ways to overcome these…

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational-predictive study is to investigate if and to what extent Teaching, Social, and Cognitive Presence combined and individually in an online General Chemistry for Science Majors class predict Intent to Persist in STEM for Hispanic community college students in California. The sample size was 148 Hispanic…

The mastery learning pedagogical approach recognizes that mastery is not always achieved on the first attempt, and learning from mistakes and perseverance is fundamental to learning. Research has suggested that mastery learning can have a positive influence on underrepresented engineering students' learning and course performance. Yet, there is a…

Equity between racial/ethnic groups has become an important factor in education, and scholar-practitioners have focused on closing the equity gap in both student academics and discipline. Research has shown the inequity in student discipline dating back to the 1950s when schools began to integrate and Black students were allowed to attend the same…

This dissertation explores how environmental engineering can utilize STEM education as a strategic tool, enhancing social sustainability and thereby empowering underserved Hispanic communities in West Texas. Responding to significant educational and resource disparities, this research introduces an innovative interdisciplinary framework that…