The three articles included in this dissertation are connected through theory and practice. Study one identifies the factors influencing Extension agents' participation in supplemental professional development opportunities using Ajzen's (1985) theory of planned behavior. Study two was a systematic investigation of Extension personnel's…

Within the last five years, more than two-thirds of the United States have passed state laws specific to dyslexia, yet there is very limited empirical research that investigates the voices of parents and/or caregivers (Woodcock, 2020). While the science of reading is at the forefront of conversation in education and legislation in Florida and…

This dissertation explored the experiences of 16 new full-time community college faculty as they learned to understand and meet their work expectations. Informed by the literature on the preparation of future faculty and the dimensions of full-time community college faculty work, this qualitative study narrowed in on the experiences of new faculty…

Professional nursing is faced with critical staffing shortages in the wake of a global pandemic. First professional degree nursing programs are acutely focused on support programs and retention programs for degree completion leading to professional licensure. This approach includes the support and retention of students who must repeat coursework…

Public schools follow school improvement guidelines to improve outcomes for students. This study utilized a quantitative method with a correlational design to discern any relationship between the NCStar School Improvement Program Indicators and student proficiency scores. The population for the study was 636 public high schools implementing the…

This study explored the prioritization of diversity within art and design schools, specifically focusing on the perceptions of chief diversity officers (CDOs) and diversity administrators. It examined how these institutions incorporated diversity into their mission statements and operational practices. The context for this research arose from…

The United States continues to experience rapid urbanization and demographic changes leading to diverse urban communities representing more than 80% of the nation's population. This has led to an increasing urban influence in the United States and to conversation among Cooperative Extension professionals regarding what its engagement in urban…

In 2018, the United States Congress passed the "Strengthening of Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act." This legislation included the requirement to conduct a comprehensive local needs assessment, which must include input from community stakeholders. This project designed and evaluated a three-step process that…

With the establishment of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, communities have depended on Extension Agents to address relevant needs. Extension Agents have used different approaches such as the Texas Community Futures Forum to obtain information on issues affecting people. The problem was that Texas Community Futures Forums have never…

Science reforms in the United States' education systems have been ongoing for over the last 50 years. These reforms are continually revised in response to the demand to increase employment in STEM careers. The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) released in 2013 are the most recent standards-based science reform effort created using years of…

This action research study examines the experiences of parents of autistic children served by Autism Speaks, Inc. It seeks to understand and improve the organization's engagement with this stakeholder group and determine ways in which the capacity of the members of this group can be built towards influencing the interaction between Autism Speaks,…

Nursing education transformation is necessary to change population health outcomes. A needs assessment is essential to learn practice expectations for population health competency before designing an education program. The purpose of the project was to develop a population health certificate program for post-bachelor nursing workforce. The project…

Community colleges prepare nontraditional students for a variety of careers. Although the colleges promote flexible class schedules and faculty who understand their students' social and economic statuses, nontraditional students often need help prioritizing their college responsibilities. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was…

Federal health agencies are facing multiple vacancies and governance challenges due to their aging workforce, additional needs due to COVID-19, remote work opportunities, and decades-long mandates for reforming the Federal recruitment and hiring process. Training curriculum is often planned to be responsive to job-related competencies and current…

Across the U.S., but especially in the Northeast and Upper Midwest, certain higher education institutions are struggling to stay afloat under the weight of decreasing enrollments, high tuition, high tuition discounting, and other threats to their continued existence in their current form. The institutions in the most precarious situations are…