A "critical access point in the STEM pipeline for Latinx students and other students of color" (Herrera et al., 2018), community colleges provide a seminal breeding ground for academic pursuits (Bahr et al., 2017). However, how personal networks influence STEM pathways of two-year college students remains largely unexplored. This mixed…

Based on the experiences of 15 Latina/o undocumented parents, this qualitative study identifies three distinct ways Latina/o immigrant parents understand their role in their children's post-secondary aspirations: "confident partners," "motivational supporters," and "uncertain spectators." By comparing and contrasting…

Motivation is a complicated concept and difficult to measure and study; nevertheless, it is a substantial factor in students' performance that demands extra attention. Instructors across all grade levels and disciplines struggle to cultivate classroom environments that focus on student interactions and promote interest where high-quality work is…

Background: Districts with federal nutrition programs must have an updated local school wellness policy (LSWP) to promote nutrition, physical activity, and student wellness. This study evaluates factors associated with LSWP quality among low-income districts. Methods: In 2018, we collected LSWPs from websites of 200 randomly selected,…

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of Latina school administrators in their career pathway--specifically, the influences, resources, and supports they leaned on to navigate challenges as they pursued and persisted in educational leadership roles. The study also focused on the personal, professional, and spiritual…

Objective: To identify factors that contribute to near-miss collisions between pedestrians and personal transportation devices (PTDs) in a university campus using a novel data collection method, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Participants: A total of 3,349 pedestrians and 173 PTD riders were detected through UAV observations. Methods: The…

This dissertation is split into two objectives: (1) to better understand the effect of relative humidity (RH) on charge transfer between metal electrodes and water droplets and (2) to assess the impact of The Design of Coffee, a general education, introductory chemical engineering course, on non-STEM students' ability to understand fundamental…

Although their numbers are growing in the field of education, women of color are highly underrepresented in high-level leadership positions such as superintendent of schools. The purpose of this narrative research study was to explore the experiences, facilitators, and barriers of 20 women of color high-level educational leaders, including…

This study examined the impact of academic momentum (enrollment intensity, summer enrollment) and loss of momentum (developmental education incidence, excess credit accumulation) points on associate degree attainment among students in the fall 2014 cohort at a California Community College (CCC) in the Central Valley. Completers had a significantly…

Recent empirical research shows that air pollution harms student test scores and attendance and increases office discipline referrals. However, the mechanism by which air pollution operates within schools to negatively affect student and teacher outcomes remains largely opaque. The existing literature has primarily focused on the effects of…

Using data from the Community College Survey of Men designed by the Community College Equity Assessment Lab--Minority Male Community College Collaborative at San Diego State University, this study examined factors influencing in- and out-of-classroom engagement of African American male students at community colleges in California. The results…

The Latinx population in California surpassed 15 million in 2022, constituting 39% of the state's residents. Despite Latinx students making up nearly half of the California Community Colleges (CCC) student body in 2019, there remains a notable lack of Latina representation in CCC leadership. To understand this disparity, a qualitative study…

Teacher attrition has been a leading issue within the United States for several decades, especially among novice Title I teachers (Farmer, 2020; Madigan & Kim, 2021). Projections of novice teacher attrition rates show that schools will continue to see a significant increase in rates after the 2021 to 2022 school year due to changes in…

This study examined equity and access to career and technical education (CTE) programs. The research used a mixed-methods case study, which explored the factors influencing CTE pathway enrollment at a high school providing CTE education through California Partnership Academies (CPA). The study employed quantitative data sources such as secondary…

Many Student Affairs Professionals leave the profession within the first 5 years. A common position for new Student Affairs Professions is the Residence Hall Director position. This study aimed to determine the level of job satisfaction and what factors contribute to job satisfaction for Residence Hall Directors in the California State University…