State University Systems look to increase success as part of accountability to stakeholders, while at the same time competing for a decreasing college age population and declining annual state appropriations. Research has been limited on State University Systems and the examination of the institutional characteristics and their ability to assist…

The primary purpose of the current study was to predict the likelihood of enrollment in Graduate School based on three independent variables: cost, time-to-completion, and return on investment. To achieve this purpose, a Z-test for the hypothesis of two proportions was utilized to create a predictive model. The model aimed to help institutional…

The present study measured factors that influence the representation of LGBTQ+ materials in New York State (NYS) school library collections. The existing body of literature has shown the importance of providing inclusive curricula for LGBTQ+ youth in schools to help decrease negative outcomes. This study surveyed school librarians to assess the…

Accountability has pushed principals to use data to drive and inform decisions in schools to positively impact student achievement. Research has shown that principals are the second most important impact on student achievement, second only to teachers. Principals who can lead change in schools based on data driven response have a positive impact…

This research studied the predictive relationship of educational top leadership tenure on school performance. Specifically, it examined whether the tenure of top educational leaders, superintendents, and school business officials predicts school performance as measured by the 2019 Illinois State Board of Education School Performance Indicator…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the involvement and integration factors that contribute to the persistence of international students. Persistence and retention are central to improving higher education, and individual student persistence as well as the rates at which students persist have direct ramifications on the university…

Women are over-represented in some sectors of higher education and underrepresented at doctoral institutions, particularly at the highest professor rank and at institutions with high prestige (Carr, 2021, Blackmore, 2015; Brewer et al., 2002; West & Curtis, 2006). This study explored gender disparity in the context of societal and…

Across the United States a significant number of individuals find themselves incarcerated each year. For the state of Florida, this number represents one of the highest in the country (Carson, 2021). Prior research has indicated that incarcerated populations across the country tend to have a lower literacy level and less education experience than…

Federal inclusion law requires that school administrators provide an equitable and legally compliant inclusive education for all students. Previous research has shown that successful program delivery is not possible without efficacious school leadership. Prior studies have also revealed that principals' self-efficacy judgments are directly…

Teacher retention is a foundational issue and schools have historically struggled to retain teachers. Previous research indicates that teachers leave the profession at high rates before year five of teaching expertise. Lack of teacher retention contributes to instability and lack of trust in school districts. This secondary data study explores…

This correlational study utilized secondary, longitudinal data to examine the extent to which student-influenced and institution-influenced factors predict the academic success and degree completion of engineering transfer students at public four-year institutions in North Carolina. The sample included students who transferred from community…

This dissertation comprises three chapters. The first two address issues within the education system, focusing on strategies to attract and retain high-quality teachers in the public sector. The third chapter, a collaborative effort with Martin Martinez and Miguel Saldarriaga, explores the application of machine learning tools for nowcasting…

In January 2022, music teacher shortages accounted for eight percent of all vacancies in U.S. school systems. After emerging from COVID-19 lockdowns, many education stakeholders began to reconsider the ways in which teaching and learning have shifted. By committing to a strong understanding of teacher self-efficacy and empowerment, administrators…

The comprehensive internationalization of higher education has long been viewed as important for student development and institutional global research engagement. The reasons for internationalization have been studied in-depth, but few studies exist linking higher education internationalization and institutional reputation, often measured through…

Campus sexual assault (CSA) is a pervasive problem among US college students. Large scale, methodologically similar studies frequently find that between 20-25% of women and 6-7% of men are sexually victimized during their time at 4 year colleges and universities in the US (Cantor et al., 2015, 2019; Fisher, Cullen, & Turner, 2000; Krebs et…