The significant under-representation of women in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers fields directly links to the under-enrollment and retention in STEM educational degree programs. Using the leaky pipeline framework and theory of student persistence, the purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to…

The purpose of this non-experimental, comparative quantitative study was to determine if there were significant differences between the perceptions of undergraduate and graduate students about the importance and presence of sense of community in online classes at two southern public universities using survey data. The study also aimed to determine…

California Community Colleges (CCC) are the largest post-secondary higher education systems in the nation, with an enrollment of over 2 million at a given year. They are also the most affordable and accessible for students after completing K-12 education. With California having the largest Latinx residents (39%), they overwhelmingly makeup 45% of…

This qualitative research study examines how Chicanx/Latinx student affairs professionals' experiences and concepts of belonging inform their practices as they support Chicanx/Latinx students at an emerging Hispanic-serving public research institution. I conducted six semi-structured interviews and two focus groups with a total of 13…

This dissertation evaluates the effects of three development interventions on female education in Afghanistan: (1) effects of foreign military withdrawal on females' demand for higher education; (2) impacts of PEZAK, a community-driven university entrance preparation, on student enrollment and performance in tertiary education; and (3) long-term…

This study focuses on a Facebook group utilized by secondary English teachers during the initial crisis period of COVID 19, defined as March 2020-June 2020. During this period, teacher participants used this Facebook group as a community of practice to re-envision pedagogy, using social media as a third space in which to have discussions with…

The stigma and daily distress routinely experienced by transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) individuals negatively disturb their safety, mental stability, physical health, school success, employment opportunities, and societal inclusion, resulting in systematic marginalization and isolation in a variety of settings, including families, schools, and…

Although retention of students in higher education has been studied extensively, research around retention of international students in U.S. higher education institutions is not as common. This study focuses on the concept of international students' sense of belonging as it relates to retention and persistence, exploring how international students…

Researchers have noted large spatial variations in rates of food insecurity. But little research exists on why this is so and the impacts it has on rural families. Drawing on a mixed-methods longitudinal study with 124 poor and working-class households in North Carolina, we analyze the processes that shape lower-income rural families' access to…

In the following article, we wrestle with the following salient questions: How do we reengage faculty when they are surrounded by chronic stress and are experiencing overwhelming negative emotions? When many of them feel overworked and underappreciated? When they haven't even begun to process the loss and grief? In this midst of ongoing…

The purpose of this study was to explore the difference participating in career and technical (CTE) dual enrollment courses made on the college and career readiness of recent high school graduates. The research also explored if CTE dual enrollment participation changed high school students' perceptions about education. Participants in this…

In response to requests for assistance from a Tibetan refugee community in Mainpat, India, Northern Arizona University developed a unique service-learning experience, the Mainpat Project, to provide health and other services. The project continued for 4 years despite the limited infrastructure and resources of a small public university and the…

Limited research examines the process of leading innovative school change from the perspective of principals. In this case study, three school principals implement a novel school model, franchise model schools. Using interviews, the researchers examined the successes and challenges principals experienced while implementing and leading this change.…

Even when achievement outcomes are equal, some students of color still do not participate in advanced academic or gifted education programs. To better understand this phenomenon, researchers engaged in a research-practice partnership within the local community to explore the experiences of families of color and assess their needs pertaining to…

Objective/Research Question: Community college graduation rates are typically quite low, and developmental mathematics enrollment and coursetaking patterns may constrain academic outcomes. To identify ways in which community college graduation rates may be improved, decision trees were utilized to examine the STEM coursetaking patterns of N =…