For this qualitative study, I employed performance gap analysis and root cause analysis on a university via semi-structured interviews that included member checking follow-ups with 10 university stakeholders and three focus groups to: (1) identify the performance gap; (2) hone in on the performance gap and identify the root causes; and (3)…

This research study examines the relationship between socioeconomic barriers students encounter and the interventions to address those factors at Lenoir Community College. Specifically, the study seeks to determine the barriers and motivators that influence their education in regards to retention and persistence in academic programs. The study…

The purpose of this study was to gather detailed descriptions of information, resources, and interventions that school counselors use to inform and advise Latinx students of postsecondary CTE options. A qualitative study with semi-structured interviews was conducted to understand how Florida school counselors advise Latinx students for…

Race and weight are two highly salient aspects of social identity across the lifespan. Both are important targets for intervention, but they are acknowledged or understood very differently as issues of bias and social justice. Racism is viewed as a problem and poorly addressed, and weight stigma is rarely noticed. Unlike other domains of…

Using a convergent mixed-methods design, we investigated role understanding and collaboration between school counselors and principals. Specifically, this study situated aspiring school counselors and principals in a curriculum intervention on the role of their counterpart and then brought the two professions together in a collaborative powerful…

Student-teacher relationships are critical to ensuring successful transitions to high school, but programs focused on building strong relationships have been concentrated at younger school levels. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to gather feedback from ninth grade students, teachers/staff, and administrators regarding an existing…

Harmful alcohol consumption can significantly compromise adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Prior research has identified aggregate relationships between alcohol use and ART non-adherence, largely relying on concurrent assessment of these domains. There is relatively limited evidence on more nuanced day-level associations between alcohol…

Gaps exist in research on the effectiveness of preventive programs and strategies to address anxiety among children, placing the burden on educational leaders and teachers. The problem is anxiety poses a threat to the academic performance of first through fifth grade students. Cognitive learning theory and attentional control theory provided a…

Mindsets have been gaining popularity recently in the field of second language acquisition (SLA). There have been studies exploring language mindsets in relation to emotions such as anxiety and fear of failure (e.g., Lou & Noels, 2017), anxiety, rejection sensitivity, contact avoidance, and willingness to interact (e.g., Lou & Noels,…

Adolescents in the United States are in a mental health crisis. It is estimated that more than 20% of children ages nine to 17 struggle with behavioral, emotional, and social problems and mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999). Mental health…

Over recent years, the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) has trended toward increased focus on improving the ethics and social validity of behavior analytic interventions. As part of this shift, ABA researchers and practitioners have begun to call long-held practices into question and seek alternative options. Despite their evidence base,…

This study examines the impacts of two AmeriCorps programs, Minnesota Reading Corps and Wisconsin Reading Corps, where AmeriCorps volunteers provide literacy tutoring to at-risk kindergarten through third-grade (K-3) students utilizing a response-to-intervention framework. This evaluation replicates a prior randomized controlled trial evaluation…

This mixed methods investigation sought to explore the effectiveness of a stuttering training module with preservice teachers. Stigmatizing attitudes about people who stutter (PWS) have been found not only in society at large, but also in specific groups including teachers. Misinformation about stuttering in educators can render early experiences…

Multiple studies of recent decades have established close relationships between spatial skills and STEM achievement. Interventions have been effective in providing evidence of malleability of spatial skills and positive impact, yet the inclusion of spatial skills in curricula and policy lags. To date, only limited research has examined the impact…

The purpose of this phenomenological was to identify and understand how Black Male Initiative programs contributed to the completion of an undergraduate degree for Black males at HBCUs. The study's central research question was: What role does the Black Male Initiative (BMI) play in Black male undergraduate degree completion at HBCUs in the U.S.?…