Middle-management leaders are in a crucible. In addition to managing their extensive regular duties and leading groups toward common goals, they must navigate conflicting expectations and competing demands from their superiors and subordinates. The challenges in middle-management leadership are exacerbated in fast-paced, high stakes, large-scale…

School accountability is a powerful force in education. Today, schools are within the early years of the "Every Student Succeeds Act" ("ESSA") which has introduced a new accountability model to states and districts, in a post-pandemic era in which schools' roles and responsibilities within the larger society have continued to…

The purpose of the study was to identify how effective communication on behalf of the building principal enhances school culture, management, instructional practices, and collaboration. Ten teachers from ten different school districts within Trumbull County, Ohio participated in semi-structured interviews and provided at least one school-based…

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between supervisors' perceived Servant Leadership behaviors and employees' Organizational Commitment, as measured by the Servant Leadership Scale (SLS-7) and the Three-Component Model (TCM) of Commitment. A sample of convenience was utilized, comprising 350 full-time employees (N = 350)…

Due to ongoing financial cuts and budget restraints, community colleges have turned to alumni association fundraising to support their mission and advance their institution. Fundraising for any organization is challenging, but community college alumni institutions have a more difficult time than their university counterparts in recruiting alumni…

As colleges and universities across the United States continue to grapple with enrollment challenges, many are embracing the concept of customer service as way to improve the student experience and positively impact retention. However, as many institutions of higher education begin to evaluate their own organizational structure, the notion of…

This paper examines the communication patterns of an academic program and the power dynamics between faculty, staff, and student workers. This study utilized participatory action research and consisted of two cycles of data collection. Additionally, this study relied heavily on current research and findings for nonacademic programs like libraries…

This qualitative case study explored staffs' perceptions regarding the influence of transparent communication on organizational culture in a faith-based college in the mid-Atlantic United States. The study used a phenomenological approach, grounded in the principles of existential phenomenology as posited by Heidegger, alongside an interpretivism…

This study aims to discover the current value and role of the contemporary community college library for community college executives. This dissertation informs librarians about how libraries will be able to thrive on the contemporary community college campus. The study draws on the literature and utilizes a mixed methods study approach to develop…

This dissertation research is a case study centered on graduate student responses to eight (8) risk and crisis emails sent from two (2) University of Minnesota leaders delivered between February 2020 and August 2021. The study joins conversations about technical communication, risk, and crisis communication, as well as advancing work on digital…

The COVID-19 global pandemic highlighted the dire need for institutional leaders to implement robust crisis communication strategies. Institutions risk damaging their reputation and relationships with constituents if their communication falters during a crisis. The purpose of this holistic single case study was to explore the appearance of the…

Leadership has evolved over the years, and organizations have witnessed the rise of servant leadership as a key approach in creating a foundation for proper engagement of followers and building a paradigm to solve problems. While the role of school leadership in essential to creating positive school cultures and climates, a systematic approach to…

Challenges in higher education continue to arise, providing administrators with insights into how prepared--or unprepared--their institutions may be for future crises. The purpose of the study is to examine how mid-level leadership, staff, and students perceived the disaster response to Hurricane Ida during the 2021-2022 academic year. Using the…

The purpose of this qualitative case study aimed to identify and describe the use of succession planning found in an educational environment, and the perceptions of administrators and teachers regarding its use. Succession planning was said to be a systematic process to identify, develop, and grow individuals for greater responsibility in the…

This study examines knowledge-sharing practices within a community of practice (CoP) through a case study of the Fresh Produce and Floral Council (FPFC). The study sought to investigate how the FPFC promoted agricultural knowledge and expertise, impacted its members' social relationships and knowledge-sharing practices, communicated clear roles…