Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Triumphs In Leadership: Exploring The Positive Power Of Appreciative Inquiry, Emotional Intelligence, And Social Constructivism Among Successful Lebanese Women Leaders In Higher Education, Lina Safa

Education Division Scholarship

This qualitative study investigates the success strategies of Lebanese women leaders in higher education, a sector where they have historically faced underrepresentation. It examines the evolution of women’s roles in this field, highlighting the progress and ongoing challenges related to gender biases and societal constraints in Lebanon. The research employs a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of these leaders, focusing on how they navigate cultural norms and societal expectations. Theoretical frameworks like appreciative inquiry, emotional intelligence, and social constructivism are used to analyze their transformative potential within Middle Eastern patriarchal structures. This study aims to inform policies and …

Realizing The Sustainability Of Portfolio Assessment In Second-Language Writing, Pauline Mak, Kevin M. Wong

Education Division Scholarship

Portfolio assessment, as an alternative writing assessment approach, has received growing attention in the past few decades. Although the benefits of portfolio assessment are well validated, there is a dearth of empirical research on how portfolio assessment can be sustained over time and the support teachers need to sustain portfolio assessment practice in their teaching contexts. To fill this significant void, the present study examines the influences that contribute to the sustainability of portfolio assessment in second-language writing. Drawing on data from interviews with the principal, English department chair and four English teachers from one elementary school in Hong Kong, …

Gamification As An Effective Method In Developing Leadership Skills And Competencies, Tianshi Hao, Ziyi Liu, Hanhui Bao, Siyuan Chen, Jesse Llamas, Michael Llamas

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Gamification, the incorporation of game design features into non-game environments, has been implemented in a variety of disciplines, including education, sustainability, language learning, and workplace transformation. According to research, workplace gamification enhances employee engagement and productivity. The gaming business has leveraged incentives and motivation to drive behavior and participation. This literature study assesses gamification's potential as a technique for leadership development and competency building. Leadership is characterized by a combination of personality characteristics, knowledge, abilities, and behaviors. Existing leadership competency analysis frameworks include emotional intelligence and taxonomies such as Gallup's "Strengths Finder." Through points, levels, and leaderboards, gamification has been …

Video Games As A Way To Facilitate Leadership Skills And Competency Development, Tianshi Hao, Zhi Yin, Siyuan Chen, Anshu Lal, Jesse Llamas, Michael Llamas

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This scoping review examines recent literature on video games and leadership competency development to assess whether gaming can foster leadership development. The study discovered that the popularity of video games has increased and that they have the ability to enhance player leadership and real-world leadership skills. Video games can increase management, social, and creative skills, and their increasing complexity makes them beneficial for the study of leadership. There are existing structures in place for leadership development in the military and in the civilian sector, despite the fact that some studies have demonstrated their potential. This topic is relevant because the …

Lingering Effects Of The Class Ceiling On Leadership Development, Mira Fadel, Zhi Yin, Siyuan Chen, Kexin Zhang, Tianshi Hao, Jesse Llamas, Michael Llamas

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This study examines the influence of social standing, affluence, and privilege on the formation of leaders. The review of literature synthesizes research including individuals from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and factors that may influence leadership development. Previous research indicates that family socioeconomic situations influence the learning of leadership knowledge, the building of a leadership attitude, and the practice of leadership skills during adolescence, hence influencing the likelihood of becoming an outstanding leader. High-status persons possess leadership-enhancing benefits, such as social capital and privileged knowledge. Nonetheless, relationships, social identity, and congruence also influence the efficacy of leaders. The study concludes that parental …

Building Pathways For Female Leaders’ Economic Empowerment, Mira Fadel, Hanhui Bao, Ailin Zhang, Tianshi Hao, Jesse Llamas, Michael Llamas

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the obstacles women experience in leadership development and economic empowerment, mainly in non-Western countries, and to compare them to those in developed nations. The study reviewed current literature in order to identify the hurdles and facilitators for female leadership and economic empowerment. Research suggests unpaid work and gender harassment pose the greatest obstacles to women's leadership and economic development. Mentoring has been proven to promote women's leadership and economic empowerment in both western and non-western countries. The study also examined the function of the economic environment in the growth of women's leadership …

Cultural Influences Of Leadership Curriculum: A Literature Analysis Between Western And Eastern Leadership Curriculum, Siyuan Chen, Zhi Yin, Tianshi Hao, Anshu Lal, Jesse Llamas, Michael Llamas

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This literature review seeks to determine how Western and Eastern cultures influence leadership training and curriculum design. According to research, cultural differences may make it difficult to develop a universal leadership curriculum. Due to cultural variations, establishing a universal leadership curriculum might be difficult, and it is most ideal to create a leadership curriculum that fits a specific culture to maximize the efficiency of a leader. Cultural factors such as society structure and dispute resolution continue to influence the desired leadership curriculum and training in target regions. Western leadership has been impacted by growth mentality, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution, …

Female Leadership Development: From A Non-Western Perspective, Mira Fadel, Zhi Yin, Siyuan Chen, Ailin Zhang, Tianshi Hao, Jesse Llamas, Michael Llamas

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This study intends to compare the evolution of female leadership in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) area, Asia, and the Western countries. According to data from the International Labour Organization, the COVID-19 epidemic has significantly impacted women's labor force participation globally and expanded the gender gap, with the MENA area being the most affected. There is a well-established global trend of rising female leadership; yet, there are still disparities in the gender composition of leadership between Western countries and other areas, with Western countries having a greater share of female leaders. In the MENA area and Asia, imposed …

Understanding Needs: Facilitating Faculty Support For Formal Assessment Processes In Higher Education, Terrance Cao

Theses and Dissertations

Prior literature discusses how conflicting beliefs regarding assessment, competing workloads, and a lack of formal assessment resources may contribute to faculty reluctance to engage with formal assessment processes. There is a gap in research on exploring assessment leader-faculty relationships through the lens of Leader-Member Exchange Theory and how that may affect participation in formal assessment processes. To address this gap, the researcher implemented a qualitative, phenomenological study to interview faculty about their lived experiences in working with formal assessment processes and interacting with assessment leaders. The goal was to discover emerging thematic categories regarding faculty perceptions of formal assessment processes …

Establishing Connectivity And Trust In High Schools During Covid-19, Lisa De Leon, Matthew D. Wilkens

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Although meta-leadership was originally a framework used to examine healthcare leadership in crisis, it is also a valuable framework for educational leadership. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused school leaders to endure a crucible of fire in every area, such as balancing children’s safety with losses to education quality. The action plans of educators are frequently in flux as the pandemic evolves and unfolds. The continuation of this crisis has led to uncertainty, and at times, chaos.

This study examines how meta-leadership, with emphasis on connectivity, has been applied by educational leadership in American high schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. 2020 …

Leadership, Service, And Wicked Problems: Impact Of War, Lack Of Funding, And Covid-19 In Service Of Those With Fewer Opportunities, Ruth V. Akumbu

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

As the world and organizations struggled to overcome the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, I, the Founder and CEO of Plant A Seed, also known as Plant a Seed Africa, used this chaotic period to assess and address issues facing the organization. Multiple challenges are addressed, including the pandemic, financial, political, and leadership. I created a new leadership strategy that switches between pacesetting, visionary, and transformational leadership styles. The new organizational change model will use the 5-F or Plant A Seed 5-F model.

Leading And Mentoring Women In Stem: Mitigating Gender & Microaggressions, Lilicia Bailey, April Curry

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Microaggressions, behaviors that can be nonverbal or verbal, can occur when individuals “communicate negative, hostile, and derogatory messages to people rooted in their marginalized group membership (based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality).” This statistic, according to the Institutional Transformation program at the University of New Hampshire,¹ is in alignment with what researchers indicate regarding microaggressions, asserting that they can be “intentional or unintentional” can occur daily, and are unacknowledged (Making the Invisible Visible: Gender Based Microaggressions, n.d.).

We consider the various types of microaggressions, specifically those based on gender, and assess the effect it has on women in leadership …

The Pathway Forward: Uncovering The Barriers Faced By Women Police Chiefs, Michael Llamas, Amor Roma, Tianshi Hao, Wendy Perkinson, Kayleigh Axtell, Anshu Lal, Jesse Llamas

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Women have encountered many obstacles in their quest to gain leadership in law enforcement. While research has studied how well women officers strive to achieve higher-level positions within police departments, the challenges women face when they gain top leadership roles remain largely unexplored. This research paper will discuss the unique challenges faced by women police chiefs, drawing from first-hand experiences of women police chiefs and existing literature. The study finds that women police chiefs encounter challenges in communication, transferring to a new department, overtasking, introvertedness, and general police chief stress. The study also finds that women police chiefs implement ways …

Subject-Matter Coursework Vs. Subject-Matter Exams (A Situational Analysis), Dennis Douglass

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Year after year, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing receives a significant number of applicants from those who want to teach in the State of California. Focusing on one of the critical concerns of low student performance and academic achievement begins with identifying potential problems within the education system, such as a lack of quality or best-fit educators in California. Becoming a teacher in the State of California has demonstrated many areas where the credentialing criterion may contain the answers to achieving higher standards and expectations from our youths in California. Incorporating subject-matter exams onto the list of teacher credentialing criteria …

An Analysis Of The Rising Xenophobia Against Asian Americans In The U.S. And Higher Education Regarding The Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Shiqian Zheng

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

This paper analyzes the cause of anti-Asian hate, the rising xenophobia against people with Asian origins, as well as the vaccine distribution and governmental leadership. By conducting a short case study on universities’ leadership during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States, this paper contributes to the literature regarding Asian Americans overall, as well as to the literature on approaches to a public crisis on hate crime in higher education in the United States.

The Reluctant Feminist: Angela Merkel’S Cautious Leadership, Ls Gaiek, Marlyn Garcia

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Abstract: What does it mean to be a modern feminist global leader today? Global leadership research is growing, but less research focuses on female leaders, even though the 21st century thus far contains a significant rise of female leaders. Angela Merkel’s infamously historic reticence and aversion, concerning speaking about feminism, irrevocably dissolves in an interview in January of 2019. This interview offers a glimpse into Angela Merkel’s cageyness, and provides an intimate insight into her circumspect perspective concerning feminism. This article aims to explore barriers and challenges to Angela Merkel’s rise as a global leader, how crisis forged and …

Black Women And Theoretical Frameworks, Laschanda Johnson

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Despite the upsurge in the number of woman students as well as novice faculty /administrators, there are still too few women leaders to inspire the shifting demographics. The growing number of female undergraduate students in most parts of the world has created the erroneous perception that gender equality in higher education has been attained. While women's contribution to higher education has increased, the attainment of leadership positions is practically unknown from the global perspective. Given that higher education is becoming a more complicated global enterprise, gender equality in leadership is not only an issue of impartiality but also a need …

Exploring Leaders' Sensemaking Of Emergent Global Norms For Open Science: A Mixed Methods Discourse Analysis Of Unesco’S Multistakeholder Initiative, Lisa Cuevas Shaw

Theses and Dissertations

In November 2021, all 193 United Nations Member States adopted the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Recommendation on Open Science (UNESCO, 2021a), which signaled a shared commitment to globally recognized standards for open science. However, as with other normative instruments established by intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) such as UNESCO, the ways in which local, national, and regional leaders will implement the recommendation can and will vary (Finnemore, 1993). Top-down and bottom-up coordination across international stakeholders in the research system is critical for the framework to be effective in driving global policy implementation and enabling sustained research culture change. …

Social Capital And Leadership Competencies Of Recent Kenyan Immigrant Leaders In The United States And Canada: Relational, Structural, And Cognitive Perception, Dorcas Cheruto Mworsho

Theses and Dissertations

Academic research on immigrant social capital indicates that the social capital gained from a country of origin is not easily transferable to a host country (Hopkins, 2020; Hou et al., 2018; Tegegne, 2015). The debate has gained recognition in the recent past as more developed countries continue to receive an increasing number of immigrants. Kenya is among the countries that continue to experience a global surge of professionals immigrating who have settled in North America. Research reveals that some known social connections within host countries are exploitative and detrimental to Kenyan immigrants who try to access meaningful leadership positions that …

Emotional Intelligence And Teachers’ Performance In The Classroom In Cairo, Egypt, Wessam Refat

Theses and Dissertations

Effective teachers continue to be in demand in the workforce. Schools and universities need professional teachers who show passion for their jobs and high work performance. This research will investigate the association among teachers’ age, gender, tenure, emotional intelligence (EI) scores, perception of emotional intelligence application in classroom, and perception of any potential impact on their prior year’s self-reported annual teaching evaluations in Madinaty National School in Egypt. For this study, the researcher will utilize mixed methods for data collection based on concurrent design (Creswell, 2014; Kummar, 2014). For additional data collection of teachers’ perspectives on emotional intelligence (EI), the …

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 …

Reasonable Accommodation Requests: Fair Evaluation And The Role Of Decision Makers, Mona Hawkins

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine fair evaluations and the role of the decision-makers in the reasonable accommodation process. In many instances, fair evaluations in the reasonable accommodation process which disabled employees experienced, were challenging and looked upon as perceived discrimination in decision-making process. A review of the literature identified further clarification and insight into educating decision-makers about the disability laws, and then altering their behavior in granting reasonable accommodations. The literature progressed with discussions surrounding why every qualified disabled employee should be accommodated as long as the reasonable accommodation is not an undue hardship to the …

Examining Alignment Of Leadership Education And Observed Practices: A Study Of Leadership Studies Department Chairs, Sara Zare

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined how leadership studies academic department chairs’ leadership is influenced by their discipline and their professional identities as leadership educators. This study is an exploration of the alignment between leadership theories and practice. Two conceptual frameworks informed this study: (a) the leadership educator professional identity development (LEPID) model (Seemiller & Priest, 2015) and (b) the four frames model (Bolman & Deal, 2017). Using the LEPID model, this study investigated the intersection of leadership education professional identity dimensions and the leadership role of the leadership studies academic department chairs. Bolman and Deal’s (2017) four frames model was used …

Women Of Color In Higher Education Institutions: Strategies To Attain Administrative Leadership Positions, Oghenemano O. Evero

Theses and Dissertations

Race and gender continue to be contributing factors to the disparity and lack of representation that exists among higher-education leaders. This study examines the lived experience of women of color to identify the strategies they utilized to attain administrative leadership roles at a Higher Education Institution (HEI). Participants included women of color leaders with at least 5 years of experience in higher education and in a leadership role. Participants also had advanced degrees. Using a narrative inquiry design, the study involved semi structured interviews to gather data from the sample population. The seven (7) women of color HEIs administrative leaders …

A Global Perspective On Mindfulness-Based Interventions In Schools, Rebecca H. Laff

Theses and Dissertations

The practice of mindfulness, which originated in ancient Buddhist philosophy, has gained popularity in secular society through the work of Western researcher Jon Kabat-Zinn. Kabat-Zinn's focus on using mindfulness to help chronically ill patients cope with stress soon expanded into non-clinical areas, including education. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) adapted from Kabat-Zinn’s work, have been utilized in schools since 2005, but there has been a lack of systematic research on the effectiveness of MBIs in classroom settings globally. To address this gap, this critical interpretive synthesis (CIS) study conducted a comprehensive literature review of quantitative and qualitative studies from around the world …

Generational Advancement In Sovereign Nations: A Qualitative Study Understanding The Significance Of Knowledge Infrastructure, George A. Vigil

Theses and Dissertations

Throughout history, socio-cultural and political movements have condemned indigenous peoples by advancing false rhetoric, half-truths, and equivocations championed as axiomatic principles. Foreign entities have massacred philosophies, traditions, and tribes while stealing ancestral lands that have yet to be recovered. This exploratory study examines the phenomenon of developing knowledge infrastructure within sovereign nations. A descriptive qualitative approach was used to answer the research question: To what extent, if at all, might knowledge infrastructure support generational advancement through learning and development programs within sovereign nations? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 Tribal citizens, community members, and employees who currently or have worked …

International Comparative Education: A Case For Russia, Kirill A. Strakhov

Pepperdine Policy Review

Moscow State University (MSU) in Russia does not have an adequate general education curriculum as part of the undergraduate requirements. The curriculum does not cover classical topics such as the exploration of human nature. At the college level, Russian students are not able to change their specialization even as freshmen. The policy recommendations are going to be grounded on the various philosophical understanding of education and its role in our society. MSU should include more open discussion seminars in order to develop crucial virtues of character. At the same time, MSU should implement a general education curriculum, which would keep …

Utilizing The Private Sector To Address California’S Shortage Of Qualified Public School Teachers, Christopher J. Lacreta

Pepperdine Policy Review

Over the past decade, the State of California has been running a deficit of well-qualified teachers in its public education system. School districts consistently report the need to hire substandard teachers who differ from well-qualified teachers in that they generally have far less schooling and experience and usually receive emergency credentials so that each school can achieve its minimum number of necessary educators to conduct operations. The main reason for this shortage is that California’s public schools are almost exclusively funded by the state budget and they do not receive significant funding from local property taxes. This has contributed to …

Utilizing Organizational Theory To Improve Education Opportunities In Correctional Facilities, Kelly Sullenberger

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

With 2.3 million people incarcerated, the United States is one of the most highly concentrated prison systems in the world (Sawyer & Wagner, 2020). In order to be in a position to improve that, the system of incarceration needs to genuinely care and invest in the lives of the inmates living in these facilities. The opportunity to receive an education is one way that allows for true rehabilitation and often can give an inmate a greater sense of purpose. This paper examines current programs in California that allow inmates to work towards and/or receive a bachelor’s degree while serving their …

The Anatomy Of A Crisis: Law Enforcement Leaders’ Perspective On Police Enforcement, Kayleigh Axtell, Jesse Llamas, Michael Llamas, Amor Roma

The Scholarship Without Borders Journal

Although law enforcement in the United States has faced past challenges, it is currently facing unprecedented crises. Previous research has shown that police officer retention and recruitment rates are diminishing, causing ripple effects throughout the U.S. police departments (Bowman et al., 2006). This study examines the anticipated challenges that law enforcement leaders face in lieu of the current social and political climate. The study uses a grounded qualitative theory and a phenomenological approach to understand participants’ experiences. Police chiefs and sheriffs were interviewed to get a leadership perspective on the anticipated challenges. The leaders described that challenges expected in the …