The purpose of this study was to examine, understand, and interpret the lived experiences of four African American male university presidents. Through phenomenological interviewing (Seidman, 2006), and grounded in critical race methodology (Peoples, 2020), the participants detailed their lived experiences through their respective journeys in…

The purpose of grading is to measure progress and assess learning. As students' progress through school, a record of their progress and learning serves as a demonstration of knowledge gained. Educators, students, parents, and other stakeholders agree that grading, or assessment of some sort is necessary. The most prevalent grading system is the…

Despite homeschooling experiencing steady growth in recent decades, research is lacking to explain or theorize the complex interconnected network of factors and experiences behind parents choosing homeschooling in lieu of public or private school. According to the last twenty years of government surveys, the top reasons for homeschooling remain…

As the historically "traditional" college student body begins to include more marginalized and minoritized populations, institutions of higher education need to be cognizant of making all students feel welcomed, appreciated, and included. Doing so necessitates an understanding of dynamics surrounding gender, power, and privilege.…

Despite community colleges being a feminized space (Ward & Wolf-Wendel, 2017), women are still marginalized (Aiston & Fo, 2021) in senior-leadership positions (ACE, 2017), but also as faculty members, who play a key role in the institution. One way women faculty members navigate their careers and overcome these barriers is by having a…

Teacher retention has been an issue for decades. Education researchers have grappled with this problem and explored how teacher characteristics, school characteristics, and organizational characteristics may predict teachers' decision to stay or leave their school sites. There is significant evidence showing that schools serving a majority of…

The purpose of this intrinsic case study was to examine the career choices and experiences of African American male teachers in secondary grade settings. Participants included 17 African American males who taught core subjects at varying grade levels. All participants worked at schools in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, metropolitan area. The main…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on special education student teachers while they were doing the practicum. A constructivist grounded theory approach was used to analyze interviews of 11 special education teachers who completed their practicum experience in the spring of 2020, when the…

The purpose of this dissertation was to gain an understanding of Muslim college students and campus administrators' responses to microaggressions that occur on college campuses. This study examined what were the reporting behaviors of Muslim college students when encountering microaggressions and discrimination. This study also sought to…

Universities are reflections of our societies and are tasked with educating the next generation of experts. The computer science (CS) phenomenon, with its high-paying jobs, attracts more students than ever to the CS undergraduate major. One may wonder why women are underrepresented in the CS major if they constitute half of university enrollment…

The choice of college and careers are not simple. The choices students make when selecting a college can affect them for their entire life. Tressie Cottom (2017), in her book, "Lower Ed," describes our educational journey like a stream (Cottom, 2017). We are all traveling down the stream of life, and there are rocks and forks. The…

There are varying motivations for tenured faculty choosing to enter positions of higher education leadership. For some, the prestige of leadership and legacy building is the driving force. Conversely, there are others motivated primarily by a strong sense of work calling and a desire to be of service. These individuals choose to put aside personal…

The COVID-19 pandemic which began in March of 2020 was the start of a crisis no one ever anticipated experiencing in our lifetime. Education was impacted on many levels and the effects continue today. K-12 schools experienced a new way of teaching and learning when forced to utilize modes of online learning to continue with school as communities…

Young learners were observed in a summer literacy program at a southern university in order to identify and understand literacy entanglements and how they contributed to the way children developed literacy. Data collection consisted of observations, researcher journals with extensive field notes, and a collection of artifacts relating to…

This study utilized narrative inquiry to learn the stories of early career teachers of students with disabilities as they navigated teaching during a global pandemic. Five early career teachers participated in a series of three semi-structured virtual interviews. Interviews were transcribed then analyzed using a six-phase approach to thematic…