Service-learning as a form of experiential learning has been used on college campuses to help provide students with a transformational experience and ultimately make them better citizens. The outcomes of service-learning that are well documented and studied are often, higher rates of student civic engagement, responsibility, academic achievement…

Racism, racial inequity, and racial violence, including micro-aggressions (slurs and fearful glances) are endemic in modern American society. Finding ways to eliminate or at least mitigate racism and racial violence is important, not only for public safety but also to ensure equality, fairness, and social harmony among every stratum of American…

This dissertation focuses on the racialization of graduate international Black African collegians (IBAC) and the effects it has on their racial identity development. The intercentricity of race maintains that race is a defining factor for how one is situated in US society. However, many international students do not come from communities…

This dissertation furthers the research on racial mismatch by examining principals' perception of influence and teachers' perspectives of principal competence and support with a critical perspective. This study uses regression and fixed-effects models. In addition, a new critical interpretive framework was developed to analyze these findings. I…

School leaders undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping educational experiences and creating student opportunities (Grissom et al., 2021; Leithwood et al., 2004). Similarly, racialized identities also play an equally crucial role in shaping educational experiences as racialized identities shape worldviews, experiences, and practices (Nasir,…

This dissertation of practice considers the dynamics of identity development of in-service educators and the intersection of their educator role with their other identities in service of orienting toward an anti-racist praxis. The problem of practice addressed centered the theory that educator identity is socially constructed, and identity may…

In 2020, as the nation experienced a racial reckoning, the North Carolina State Board of Education was in the process of adopting new social studies standards. The racial reckoning constituted a policy window to advocate for standards that better included marginalized experiences. In response, conservative lawmakers engaged in a political…

Historically Black youth have been labeled as needing to be "saved" and "fixed" because they are "at-risk," "broken," and more likely to subscribe to deviant behavior. This deficit rhetoric frames community-based education programs (CBEPs) that serve Black youth as vital spaces that must prevent and save…

Tracking is the practice of sorting students into courses based on their perceived ability. Middle school mathematics programs commonly track students into leveled courses with differential access to curriculum, instructional practices and future courses. With 40 years of research to draw on, every professional organization of mathematics…

There has been an increase in political policies banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in colleges and universities in the United States. In the current research, I focused on examining how two different types of communication strategies influence White people's attitudes toward political policies. The first communication…

This dissertation evaluated the outcomes of a civil rights bus tour as a diversity initiative for employees at a private Christian university in Pennsylvania. Previous qualitative research suggests that participants improve their attitudes toward diversity and experience increased levels of civic engagement. This study quantitatively evaluated…

This study seeks to explore the experiences of Black male protagonists in picture books. The following question guided this study: How do Black authors demonstrate a commitment to social justice? The theoretical framework that guides this study is Critical Race Theory (CRT), which aids in understanding how Black authors use experiential knowledge…

Throughout history, higher education institutions (HEIs) in the United States (U.S.) have espoused the goal of developing an educated citizenry with the capacity to engage across difference and contribute to solving the major issues in society (Association of American Colleges & Universities [AACU], 2019; Kezar, 2004). Although significant…

The current makeup of the PK-12 educational workforce is largely White persons. However, the demographic makeup of the student body is soon to be a majority of students of color. This is problematic due to the disproportionate statistics of students of color being suspended at higher rates than White students, the "achievement gap"…

Inclusive educational spaces are necessary for all post-secondary students to thrive and enjoy their college experience. Faculty and staff may unintentionally create non-inclusive educational spaces, however, with behaviors relative to race/racism and microaggressions driven by racial implicit bias. Via this mixed-methods action research study I…