The objective of this dissertation is to identify the sense of belonging of Black male students attending predominantly White institutions (PWIs). In many cases, Black males feel they do not belong in collegiate environments in the United States. Thirty-nine Black males attending a mid-sized Midwestern university were surveyed using the Basic…

Mentorship has served as an effective strategy in helping African American college students persist at predominantly White institutions of higher education (Sinanan, 2016). African American students have reported finding these campus environments to be unwelcoming, even racist. These environmental challenges along with the challenges of unfamiliar…

Colleges and universities appoint interim leaders to fill key leadership vacancies during periods of organizational transition and change. Although a widely accepted practice within higher education, there is limited literature related to the topic of interim leadership or on the experiences of those who navigate the role. Therefore, the purpose…

Racial microaggressions often occur in U.S. higher education. However, less is known about how White American students reason about their evaluations of racial microaggressions. The present study investigated how 213 White college students (54.46% cisgender women) attending a Primarily White Institution in the Southeast U.S. in the Fall of 2019…

This study presents an action research investigation into the lived experience of race-related stress among Black K-12 educators. The study was motivated by the recognition that Black educators working in White settings are suffering from race-related stress. A qualitative phenomenological case study design was employed to investigate the…

The discourse surrounding Black immigrant and Black American student relationships in higher education has often centered tensions between the two groups related to their enrollment in private elite institutions (e.g., Bennett & Lutz, 2009; Charles et al., 2008; Massey et al., 2007). However, both inside and outside of the private elite…

This study identifies and analyzes factors impacting students' perceptions of international instructors' teaching effectiveness at a U.S. public university. The researchers conceptualized teaching effectiveness as a combination of factors and applied structural equation modeling to analyze the effects on students' perceptions of effectiveness.…

We are a collaborative teaching team at a mid-sized, predominately white institution (PWI), who sought to explore teaching about antiblackness in teacher education. Using an antiblackness theoretical framework we asked: (1) What are our individual and collective curricular responsibilities as marginalized faculty and instructors within this…

This research shares testimonios from 11 Latina undergraduates attending a 4-year PWI in the Western US to better understand how they defined and measured their success in higher education. Traditional success measures, like graduation and persistence rates, are based on the institution's values and do not fully represent Latine values. While…

There is a lack of significant literature that highlights the lives of students who identify as Black women who are also first-generation college students. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the impact higher education has on the development of the sense of self of first-generation Black women. More specifically, this study sought…

Underrepresented college students, particularly those attending a predominantly White institution (PWI), face unique challenges that undermine well-being and academic performance. However, support from natural mentors may mitigate the harms caused by these challenges and promote more positive college adjustment. The current study investigated how…

The topic of affirmative action has been a subject of intense debate, with both proponents and opponents offering compelling arguments. Justice Clarence Thomas, an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, has consistently expressed strong reservations about affirmative-action policies, viewing them as a form of reverse discrimination that may…

Formalized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have been implemented at predominantly white institutions over the last 50 years to address student demands for equitable campus environments, changing student demographics, and to comply with federal law. This narrative inquiry explored how DEI staff in cultural centers storied their…

Beauty is a concept that is socially constructed. Although superficial, beauty is a form of currency that can add value and provide opportunities. The problem with beauty construction is that it is rooted in hegemonic European beauty ideals that negatively rejects Black features and shapes the perceptions of Black women's appearance and the…

The impostor phenomenon (IP) refers to the inability to internalize one's success as the product of one's own efforts. Instead of attributing their success to their own capabilities and intelligence, individuals with IP attribute their success to external factors, such as luck, charm, and having the right connections. In addition, those with IP…