She Leads Business Education: A Phenomenological Study On The Career Development Of Female Deans Leading Aacsb-Accredited Business Schools In America, Rachel Staples Guettler

Theses and Dissertations

As women advance into leadership roles in America, there is a demand for career development research to deepen understanding of strategies for overcoming obstacles and maximizing opportunities. This study investigated 13.4% of the population of female Deans of AACSB-accredited business schools in America through qualitative inquiry. During this study, 157 of 540 American business schools with AACSB accreditation were led by female Deans. A female perspective was interpreted through the framework of Career Development Theory revealing the internal and external forces impacting career development chronology, experiences, contexts, behavioral patterns, beliefs, and leadership of women who have become Deans. Gender-related and …

High Potential Programs In Professional Service Firms, Charlene Robison

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined whether a mixed-cohort of billable and non-billable (e.g., marketing, human resources, accounting, technology) participants in a high-potential development program is beneficial to the organizations that utilize this development approach and to the participants in such programs. This research focused on professional service firms with time-defined and structured high-potential programs. This study utilized a mixed-method design and gathered data in two phases: a survey and a focus group. These methods were used to obtain participant sentiments of participating in their respective high-potential programs. Twenty-five high-potential professionals completed the survey and six participated in the focus group. The study …

Career Paths, Responsibilities, Barriers, And Affirmations Of Exemplary Female Elementary School Principals, Stacie Collins

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to explore the lived experiences of exemplary female elementary principals. The qualitative phenomenological study investigated the career paths, job responsibilities, barriers/challenges, and affirmations of exemplary female principals practicing in elementary schools in the United States. The participants were required to have at least 5 years of experience in education and at least 3 years as an elementary school principal. Interviews were conducted by the researcher to acquire explanations about the participants’ perceptions, perspectives, and feelings based on their experiences as exemplary elementary principals. The investigation focused on the females’ career paths, job responsibilities, barriers/challenges, …

Career Trajectory And Leadership: The Role Of Personal Adversity, Kristina E. Kovacs

Theses and Dissertations

Adversity is part of life and certainly contributes to human development. This study seeks to explore the impact of personal adversity on career trajectory and leadership. A qualitative study based on 12 interviews with a narrative approach is presented. Key themes were identified among high-level executives around career evolution, perception of leadership, and how those experiences impacted their way of leading. The study concludes with a brief discussion of limitations and the findings that raise questions for additional research and provide some support for leadership and career development, counseling, and training.

Distributed Team E-Leadership: A Phenomenological Inquiry Into Subordinate Perceptions Of Career Development, Coby Andrew True

Theses and Dissertations

As changes in the global economy coupled with fast-paced advancements in technology continue to evolve and merge, the need to deploy a distributed workforce becomes increasingly important to remain competitive. Just as managers adapt traditional leadership styles to meet the needs of the distributed environment, individual team members must also overcome the challenges of increased geographic proximity, or physical distance between team members and team leader. As distributed teams continue to become more prevalent in the work environment, adaptations of traditional leadership styles must evolve to account for the unique conditions. The increasing use of Advanced Information Technology (AIT) has …

Exploring Turnover Among Nurse Managers, Directors, And Executives In Acute Care Hospitals, Deborah Hughes Warden

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The strength and quality of the nursing leader workforce is associated with staff nurse retention and patient outcomes. While leadership turnover is not always negative, there is still uncertainty, loss of program continuity, power shifts within an organization, and significant expense for the organization in recruiting and integrating a new leader.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore intent to leave and turnover experiences of acute care nurse managers, directors, and executives.

Methods: For this nationwide survey, recruitment was done via snowball sampling through state hospital associations and professional organizations across the US with a resulting sample …

A Multi-Case Study Of A Problem-Based Learning Approach To Teacher Professional Development, Michaela Jacobsen

Theses and Dissertations

Although professional development (PD) is critical for teachers to develop as professionals, many teachers do not receive PD that is beneficial to their learning. Research demonstrates that effective teacher PD is PD that promotes active learning, emphasizes collaboration, is sustained over time, is correlated to teachers’ specific contexts and curriculum, and is coherent with the school as a whole. For the purposes of this study, the theoretical framework of constructivism was used, focusing on the learning theories of Dewey and Vygotsky. Problem-based learning (PBL) is an approach to learning that draws on the principles of constructivism. A PBL approach to …

The Impact Of Race, Gender, And Class On Career Development: Perceptions Of African American Women, Nicole Milan-Tyner

Theses and Dissertations

Socio-political issues of race, gender, and class have had a lasting impact on African American women. This impact has historically shaped the reality and lived experiences of African American women including their employment and economic opportunities. At the heart of this impact are the career goals and aspirations of African American women, which are also influenced by race, gender, and class. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the perceptions of five African American undergraduate women regarding their career aspirations, and the impact that race, gender, and class have on those aspirations. The study was conducted at a predominantly …

The Role Of Learning Experiences, Supports And Barriers In Career Development For The Doctoral Student, Madeline B. Goldman

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

THE ROLE OF LEARNING EXPERIENCES, SUPPORTS AND BARRIERS FOR THE DOCTORAL STUDENT

By Madeline B. Goldman, DDS, MEd

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Virginia Commonwealth University, 2018

Major Director: Robin Hurst, Ed.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Teaching and Learning

This study seeks to understand the role of career development classes offered by the graduate school at a large public research university as part of its Leadership and Entrepreneurs for Professional Development (LEAPD) program and the LEAPD program effects on doctoral students’ career development and …

Examining Secondary Language Arts Teachers' Perceptions Of Professional Learning: Motivations, Values, Barriers, Needs, And Aspirations, Ivy Ewell-Eldridge

Theses and Dissertations

Research reveals that for American secondary teachers, mere participation, or the desire to participate, in professional development is not a matter of concern, as many in the educational community have assumed. Yet, there is a void in the literature regarding American, lower secondary educators of literacy and their overall perceptions of professional learning. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the perceptions of lower secondary English language arts (ELA)/literacy teachers, specifically in regard to what motivates these educators to participate in professional development, what they value in professional learning opportunities, the challenges that keep them from participating, and …

Examining Institutional Career Preparation: Student Perceptions Of Their Workplace Readiness And The Role Of The University In Student Career Development, Molly Gonzales

Theses and Dissertations

Existing research suggests a misalignment between the preparation offered by higher education and the workplace readiness skills employers are expecting recent graduates to have mastered. Multiple studies completed on the topic of workplace readiness explored the views of employers, while few gathered the perspectives of students or recent graduates. This embedded mixed methods study invited both undergraduate seniors’ and recent graduates’ to participate in an on-line survey capturing perceptions of their own workplace readiness and their thoughts regarding the role the university should have in student career development. Current undergraduate seniors and first-year alumni of a private, 4-year non-profit university …

Factors Affecting Educator Participation In Professional Development Activities Through The Use Of A Microblog, Angela Larson

Theses and Dissertations

Examining teacher participation in collaborative microblogging activities may offer insight into creating alternative options for effective professional development. In this sequential explanatory mixed methods study, educators’ opinions of their use of a microblogging tool, Twitter, will be examined to determine what factors affect their participation in professional development activities using the microblogging tool, Twitter. The overall guiding question for this study will be, Why do educators participate in voluntary professional development opportunities, specifically in Twitter-supported professional learning networks? This study will contribute to the existing body of research in the areas of professional development, professional learning networks, educator’s motivation to …

A Career Course Follow-Up: Does A Student Development Elective Make A Difference?, Jamie Marie Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

Since its inception, work and career-related issues have been central to the aims and scope of counseling psychology as a discipline. One common career counseling intervention in the University setting is to offer elective, credit-bearing courses in career development and exploration to provide help and direction to college students as they decide on majors and prepare for careers. Much research has been conducted which suggests that the use of career courses in the university setting has strong, positive impact on students' career decision-making ability and other output variables. What is less established is the impact of these career courses on …

Factors Leading To A Satisfying Career In Airport Management: Evidence From Airport Managers In Norway, Eirik Holdø

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that influence a person to choose airport manager as a professional career and how these factors relate to the level of satisfaction the person experiences with this career choice. By using a correlational methodology with an explanatory design, this study examined the influence of early aviation interests, demographics, health factors, formal education, and other aviation experiences on Norwegian airport managers’ career choice and its relationship to their level of career satisfaction. A sample of N = 39 airport managers at Norwegian commercial service airports were surveyed. To assess the relationship, a …

The Effect Of Advanced Educational Pursuits On Re-Entering The Workforce Following A Modest Period Of Unemployment, Charles J. Trayser Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Over the last 100 years, there has been an ever-tightening correlation between education and employment. In the early 1900s, it was the attainment of a high school diploma that yielded lower unemployment. In the middle of the century, it was the bachelor's degree, and in the 21st century, it is advanced degrees, such as MBAs. While there is a preponderance of data supporting the relationship between higher levels of education and a diminishing likelihood of unemployment, the value of continuing education potentially assisting an educated (degree-holding) worker back into the workforce is an un-researched area. This study examined the relationship …

Applied Experiences Of The Soar Framework By Association Management And Foundation Executives, Steven Wayne Swafford

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to explore the application of the strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and results (SOAR) framework derived from the appreciative inquiry literature and through the lived experiences of California-based association management and non-profit executives leading professional societies, trade associations, or foundations. In addition, this research, using phenomenological interviewing techniques, aimed to determine whether or not association management executives working in California-based professional societies and trade associations changed their individual thought processes or behaviors as a result of attending a professional development program that demonstrated the SOAR framework. The research questions that guided this research were: (a) what …

Called To Lead: An Examination Into The Phenomenon Of Calling, Hughie Jackson Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

Perhaps the most widely known episode of a calling is the burning bush experience of Moses, leader of Israel's sojourn to freedom from Egyptian captivity. At present, the phenomenon of being called to a place, vocation, or career has limited social science research. Indeed, prior to the middle of the 21st century this concept was lacking both theoretically and empirically. Any coverage of the subject of a calling was primarily found in religious periodicals and similar publications (Newman, 2006). In 2007, Scott attempted to advance the discourse on career development by examining callings and the corollary meanings which college students …

Asilomar Leadership Skills Seminar: The Career Preparation, Advancement, And Enhancement Of Women In California Community College Leadership, Estella M. Castillo-Garrison

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods research study examined the effects on the career preparation, advancement, and enhancement of women from California community college leadership who participated in the Asilomar Leadership Skills Seminar (Asilomar) from 2005-2011. Data were collected during the 2011-2012 academic year and were gathered from the results of 67 respondents to an online 27-item survey and from 10 volunteer interviews. Eleven important findings resulted from analysis of study data. In the area of career preparation, Asilomar prompted participants to set personal and professional goals, encouraged and inspired them to prepare to take on leadership roles with increasing responsibility, and positively influenced …

A Model For Integrating A Career Development Course Program Into A College Curriculum, Charles Michael Austin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to address the need to practicalize higher education by expanding career coursework into an ongoing career curriculum, beginning in a student's freshman year of college. Career development needs to serve as a finishing school for a college degree, the place where all a student has learned is combined into an awareness of the talents and skills they have developed, and can now be marketed to potential employers. The working world has become a volatile environment, and we do our students a disservice if we do not properly prepare them for the reality of the …

The Effects Of Career Broadening On Leadership Development, S. David Walker

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research was to improve the Air Force’s knowledge of the effects of career broadening jobs on the leadership development of its officer corps. Specifically, the study sought to find significant relationships between incidents of career broadening in the officers’ background and their odds of being selected for promotion and in-residence professional military education (PME). Selection under these two areas is considered recognition of an officer’s ability to handle more responsibility and greater leadership challenges. Therefore, they are logical assessments of an officer’s leadership development. Duty histories of officers who met the Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel …

Student Psychological Distress In A Career Exploration Course, Roger H. Belisle

Theses and Dissertations

A gap in the literature exists on the connection between an individual's career and non-career domains. Even less research exists on the topic of career development and how it relates to an individual's mental health. Accordingly, this study sought to investigate the connection between career issues and mental health by exploring the psychological distress levels of students enrolled in a career exploration course. During the course, students completed a bi-weekly online survey, the Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45). Results support the possible connection between career issues and mental health and also show that for certain populations, career guidance interventions may decrease an …

An Investigation Of The Contracting Officer Career Pyramid, William B. Elyea

Theses and Dissertations

Air Force contracting officers rely on published guidance to assist in establishing their career objectives. This thesis uses empirical data to evaluate the published Air Force career guidance. The data set is comprised of complete duty histories from all active duty colonels, colonel selects, and general officers in the contracting career field. The guidance implies a career path to an exceptional career but provides no empirical validation. This thesis follows a rigorous procedure to objectively evaluate the Air Force guidance. The guidance is translated into 18 research questions based on its main tenets. Each duty occurrence is categorized by type …

Establishing A Career Development Plan For The System Support Manager, Noelia Mendoza

Theses and Dissertations

Career development plans are created to assist individuals in establishing their career objectives. The most commonly used career path model is the pyramid career model. It identifies the ideal job experiences, training, and education needed to reach career success. Although the model seems to provide everything needed to succeed, it fails to answer why the experiences identified are important. The answer to that question can be found in the competency model. This thesis looked at how the pyramid career model and competency model can be used to groom individuals. The variables that contribute to overall job performance and the competencies …

A Delphi Expert Assessment Of Professional Certification Programs For Contracting Personnel, Ronald L. Tougaw Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the strategic goals that were the basis for the DoDs implementation of mandatory certification for individuals serving in the contracting career field of the acquisition workforce. The study then went on to enlist panels of contracting experts to assess the extent to which two of the available certification programs meet, or fail to meet, those goals. The research method employed to gather input from experts was a Delphi discussion technique. Two separate panels, one consisting of Air Force civilian employees, the other of Air Force active duty officers, participated in eight Delphi iterations facilitated by the researcher. …

Empirical Evaluation Of The Civil Engineer Career Pyramid And Career Guidance, Travis K. Leighton

Theses and Dissertations

Air Force civil engineer officers rely on published guidance to assist in establishing their career objectives. This thesis uses empirical data to evaluate the published Air Force career guidance. The data set is comprised of complete duty histories from all active duty lieutenant colonels in the civil engineer career field. The guidance implies a career path to become a civil engineer squadron commander but provides no empirical validation. This thesis follows a rigorous procedure to objectively evaluate the Air Force guidance. The guidance is translated into 24 research questions based on its main tenets. Each duty occurrence is categorized by …

An Examination Of The Demographic And Career Progression Of Air Force Institute Of Technology Cost Analysis Graduates, Christopher S. Dalton

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) was asked to develop a graduate curriculum to support cost analysts in the acquisition arena in October 1980. The first class entered in May 1982 and graduated in September 1983 with Master of Science degrees in Systems Management. This degree program gained autonomy by offering its first true Master of Science degree in Cost Analysis in 1988. Now there are nearly thirteen years of graduate cost analysts (GCAs) in the workforce. This thesis examined the impact this program has had on these graduates and the Air Force. Surveys were mailed out to 73 …

Career Development Of Air Force Officers In Contracting: An Examination Of Perception And Understanding, Martin P. Hamlin

Theses and Dissertations

This research considered five factors deemed necessary for supporting career development, including experience, professionalism, expectations, mentoring, and training. The author studied the perceptions of captains in the contracting career field as a means of better understanding the unique career development challenges faced by contracting officers. This study concluded that captains in contracting do not perceive one best career path, nor one best set of professional and technical skills. Career expectations remain high and mentoring activity low, despite recent institutional emphasis directed at both. The value of current required formal training, as rated by contracting officers, seems to be high.

A Comparison Of Non-Performance Characteristics With United States Air Force Officer Promotions, James W. Bruns, Lawrence A. Eichhorn

Theses and Dissertations

The question of which non-performance factors influence the promotion of officers to major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel within the Air Force for Promotion Boards held in 1992 is the focus of this thesis. The thesis statistically examines the impact of the variables commissioning source, prior enlistment, age, aeronautical rating, graduate education level obtained and source of education, Professional Military Education courses taken and method of completion, distinguished graduate status from commissioning source and Professional Military Education courses for in-the-zone promotions. Multivariate logistics regression techniques are used to analyze and identify those variables significant to promotion. Odds-ratios are used to determine …

An Analysis Of Career Progression Rates Of Civilian Graduates Of The Air Force Institute Of Technology, Helena R. Hughley, Gene E. Massman

Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzes the career progression rates of civilian graduates from the School of Logistics and Acquisition Management of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). The sample includes all civilian AFIT graduates who are currently working for the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC). Actual promotion rates of the AFIT graduates are compared to promotion rates for two comparison groups: AFMC civilians with a master's degree from a civilian institution; and AFMC civilians with a bachelor's degree but no graduate degree. A regression analysis is performed to study the relationship between specific factors and a graduate's future rate of promotion. …