Leadership Studies Commons^™

Perceptions Of Vocation, Calling, And Work Among College Students From Union University: A Phenomenological Study, Matthew S. Bowman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore perceptions of vocation, calling, and work among junior classification students at Union University. Calling was defined as a transcendent drawing toward a particular path in life, particularly as it relates to work. Vocation was defined in light of its historical and theological roots with a focus on the transcendent drawing toward a way of life as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Work was defined as one’s job or career. The theory guiding this study was that of constructivism or social constructivism, which “understands human reality as socially constructed reality” (Berger …

Are The Housing Staff Alright? A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Examination Of The Experiences Of On-Campus Student Housing Professionals Through The Covid-19 Pandemic, Megan J. Chibanga

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

College and university housing professionals served a role they were generally underprepared for as long-term crisis managers during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted and shifted higher education operating structures on a grand scale, and housing staff were asked to continue operating on-campus housing facilities throughout the ever-changing response to COVID-19. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of housing professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the collective experiences of 21 participants three major threads emerged: comfort in the unknown, a need for connection and community, and relentless resilience. Each of these …

Diversity Webinar For Special Libraries Association Academic & Education Community And Acrl’S Ebss Education Committee: Diversity As A Collective Action: A Strategy For Success, Essraa Nawar

Library Presentations, Posters, and Audiovisual Materials

In her role, which has continuously grown in scope during her tenure at Chapman, Essraa Nawar has re-imagined diversity at the Leatherby Libraries, creating and implementing the first ever Library Diversity Statement and Plan, leading the library to receive the first-ever Diversity Award. A leader on women's empowerment, Essraa was invited by the Egyptian Government to participate in a women’s conference and was honored as one of the top 30 Egyptian women abroad. As an interfaith advocate, her campaign #changethenarrative aims to breaking stereotypes and promote peaceful coexistence. In April 2022, she was recognized as one of California’s Women of …

Book Review It Takes An Ecosystem: Understanding The People, Places, And Possibilities Of Learning And Development Across Settings, Denise Montgomery

Journal of Youth Development

It Takes an Ecosystem: Understanding the People, Places, and Possibilities of Learning and Development Across Settings, edited by Thomas Akiva and Kimberly H. Robinson, is a call to take a holistic and dynamic ecosystem approach to thinking about, designing, developing, and investing in the allied youth fields to more equitably and effectively support young people’s learning and development. Published in 2022, the volume outlines a vision for out-of-school time programs and systems, schools, community-based organizations, and the public sector to move beyond focusing separately on individual systems to a learning and development ecosystem approach that more accurately and inclusively reflects …

Online Education In The Age Of Social Media Influencers: Applying Net Promoter Scores To Asynchronous Online Delivery, Scott Sandok

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

Online students are mobile and networked and expect quality online classes. Dissatisfied online students’ educational choices are not limited to institutions with their geographical region. The ability of students to disseminate information about dissatisfactory educational experiences to potential student enrollees has increased with the growth of social media. Organizations wishing to use online enrollment as a growth mechanism or offset physical enrollment decreases need tools to understand their perceived market value and quality. A frequently used tool for consumer satisfaction, the Net Promoter Score (NPS), has rarely been applied to academia. This article highlights the application of NPS to online …

Demystifying The Qualitative Coding Process: Insights From A Rookie, Scott Sandok

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

The coding process is mysterious and terrifying for those new to qualitative methods. The existing guides are either highly theoretical and abstract or incredibly detailed and nuanced. Subjectivity and flexibility, strengths of qualitative coding, are challenging for those new to the process. This article is intended for the new researcher who desires coding examples and the intuition associated with each decision. Offering details on subjective decisions encountered by a rookie researcher moves away from abstract theoretical examples to practical applications and decisions that need to be made by the qualitative researcher.

Impacts Of Education Reform On Teacher Attraction And Retention, Carl Bryan

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

No abstract provided.

Cultivating Success For Foster Youth Students In Higher Education Through Mentorship, Anita Duong

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

Foster students on campus lack intensive support and mentorship through college. The purpose of this research was to study how the University of San Diego can support staff who serve as mentors to the Torero Renaissance Scholar (TRS) students, a program dedicated to supporting foster students. The questions addressed were: What are the needs and concerns of the TRS mentors? How can USD support the needs and concerns of the TRS mentors? I conducted interviews, facilitated a workshop, and held a focus group for the mentors to express the support they needed. The outcome of the interviews and workshop indicated …

History Lessons From Esther: The Leopold Von Ranke Lecture Delivered At The Phi Alpha Theta Induction Ceremony, Kent R. Olney

Scholarship – Academic Affairs Office

The German historian, Leopold Von Ranke, noted the following: “Every epoch is immediate to God, and its value is not based on what emerges from it, but on its very existence.” My assignment was to respond to Von Ranke’s thoughts. I have done so by drawing on four observations made from the OT book of Esther. These observations pertain to truth, years, obscurity, and heroes; all of them matter to God and all of them should matter to the historian. In a sense, these four elements are the raw materials, or building blocks, of history in any generation. I conclude …

Equalizing Community Voice In An International Service-Learning Project: A Narrative Inquiry Of A Social Entrepreneurial Peruvian Women's Group, Monica D. Hernandez

Theses & Dissertations

Traditionally, international service-learning (ISL) programs are created and led by host groups, which frequently overlook the international communities’ learning process and perspectives and the long-term impact of service missions on the community. Fundamentally, ISL is meant to address community needs. With the principal focus being on enriching students’ learning, community voice is often eclipsed. The research aim was to investigate the empowerment and efficacy of an ISL project to strengthen relationships between engaged scholars and international communities and improve future service-learning trips. Using a qualitive narrative research design, I investigated a 2021-2022 ISL Based Photovoice Project applying Kolb’s Experiential Learning …

How To Drink From A Firehose: Systemic Supports For Polytechnic Chairs, Jocelyn R. Crocker

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

This Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) is centred on the Problem of Practice of the inadequate institutional supports for academic Chairs at Prairie Polytechnic (a pseudonym), a large public higher education institution in Western Canada. Chairs are pivotal for higher education institutions because they impact student, departmental, and institutional outcomes; however, the leadership development needs of Chairs are overlooked, and the limited training available for Chairs is primarily ad hoc, episodic, short-term, and self-guided. The objective of this OIP is to determine how Prairie Polytechnic can provide more effective systemic supports for Chairs. Postmodernism is used to explore the relationships between …

Off The Rez: Witnessing Indigenous Knowledges Through Social Media, Deborah Hales

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

The term “Off the Rez” is used, in the title, to mean research that is not done on a reservation or in urban areas. This study aims to discover if social media can be used as an innovative option for non-Indigenous allies to conduct respectful research. The study research questions were, (1) can social media be used as a research tool, to witness Indigenous Knowledges? (2) Can social media be used as research, by non-Indigenous research allies, to have the least impact on Indigenous communities?

This research was conducted using social media, with selected Indigenous participants who were 18, identified …

“The Juggle Is Real”: An Examination Of The Realities Faced By Working Mothers At The University Of San Diego And The Impact Of Institutional Policies On Their Quest For Work-Life Balance, Colleen K. Smith

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of my action research was to gain a better understanding of working mothers at the University of San Diego (USD) and the influence of institutional policies in their lives. My research question was: What can I learn from the lived experiences of those who identify as women and mothers and work at USD that will bring awareness and changes to the policies and practices affecting them? As a mother working at USD, this research has significance in my life. Participants included 14 full-time staff and administrators with children 5 years old or younger. My findings indicate USD mothers …

First-Generation Latina Testimonios: Navigating A Predominantly White Institution And Achieving Academic Success, Nancy Correa

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of my research was to understand the experiences of Latina first-generation college students at the University of San Diego, a predominantly White institution. Six Latinas participated in a series of group platicas to share testimonios with one another and build community. One research question that guided this study was: “How can the self-efficacy, sense of belonging, and academic achievement of first-generation Latina students be enhanced in a predominantly White institution?” Findings suggested participants’ negative experiences with faculty and White classmates impacted their sense of belonging and academic self-efficacy. Most participants worried how they will continue to finance college …

The Valley In Between: Fostering Biracial Pride And Exploring Community On Usd Campus, Pauline Herring

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

Biracial students face more challenges in higher education than students with one racial identity because universities lack student support services for biracial students, affecting their student development and compromising a student’s success. This study aimed to create an identity-based student service for biracial students to support them and provide a way to foster biracial pride. My guiding questions are: How can I assist bi-racial students in finding a sense of community at USD by centering their stories and needs? How will the concept of biracial pride impact students and their higher education experience?

The Untapped Potential Of Commuters: Engaging Faculty And Staff To Foster A Commuter-Inclusive Space And Student Interest At The University Of San Diego, Monica Gonzalez Herrera

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The commuter student population faces many challenges in getting involved on campus. Taking an asset-based approach, this study aimed to enhance first-year commuter engagement and support their sense of belonging at a private, faith-based university. By modifying McNiff and Whitehead’s model of reflect-plan-act-exhibit, students were invited to engage in several identity, community, and leadership activities throughout the academic year. Results suggest first-year commuters need role modeling or mentorship that is challenging and supportive, the support of creating a ‘third space’ away from home and school, and the development of authentic and genuine connections among peers and staff. It is recommended …

Balancing Act: A Study Of Graduate Student-Parents And Their Experiences Navigating Family And Academic Demands At The University Of San Diego., Jessica Rammell

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to learn about the experiences of graduate students who are raising children while enrolled in master’s and PhD programs at the University of San Diego. The question that guided this research was: What do the stories of graduate student parents inform us about the need to improve policies and practices at USD? Three cycles of action research were conducted at the University of San Diego between November 2022 and March 2023, with a total of seven participants. The methods of research included focus groups, interviews, and a creative group session. It was found that …

Creating Community Among Women Of Color In Stem At The University Of San Diego, Alejandro Picasso

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

Women of color (WOC) are underrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and many feel disconnected from their fields of study. At the University of San Diego (USD), a predominately White institution, WOC in STEM are particularly underrepresented. Thus, I explored how USD might create a community that could enhance the belonging, retention, and the future success of WOC in STEM. I sought to learn if the USD environment welcomed and allowed WOC to feel they belonged. Findings indicated USD and the STEM departments provide these students with a welcoming environment. However, the lack of representation of WOC faculty …

First-Generation Black Male Students’ Experiences, And Relationships That Shaped College – To - Career Transition, Regina K. Smith

Ed.D. Dissertations

First-generation, Black, male students continue to lag behind their continuing-generation peers in degree attainment, leaving them deficient in obtaining the social and financial upward mobility higher education is expected to afford. Research finds that, despite Black males entering college with higher degree aspirations than their White peers, they were 6 times less likely to achieve them, and only 5% of Black males would eventually graduate with a degree or certificate within three years of enrollment, compared with 32% of White males (Center for Community College Student Engagement, 2014). To close this persistent gap, this research sought to understand the activities, …

Transforming Black Students’ Higher Education Experiences And Lives: A Proposal For The Csu, Don Lundy

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

For decades, a racial “achievement gap” has persisted in U.S. higher education. Specifically, White students have outperformed Black students on a number of indicators, including college admissions, standardized test scores, and graduation rates. This graduate project considers several explanations for this persistent inequity. The root of the problem, it argues, is U.S. higher education’s history of racism and exclusion and the oversaturation of whiteness in these institutions. In other words, U.S. higher education was built for and continues to serve White students at the expense of Black students. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) show us that when whiteness is …

Selling Graduation: Higher Education And The Loaning Of Liberation, Annie Pocklington, Elizabeth J. Flanagan, Christopher Bodenheimer Knaus

Essays in Education

While the costs to attend college continue to rise exponentially, a bachelor’s degree is held up as required for economic stability within the U.S. and across the globe. With drastic disparities in earning potentials after graduation reduced by racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ableism, and related structural disparities, the value of a degree continues to be questioned, especially for historically marginalized communities. As the loan industrial complex continues to profit off of students, President Biden has offered $10,000 in student loan relief for some borrowers, though this action has been blocked by federal courts and is currently on hold. Whether Biden’s …

Covid-19 Impact On Undergraduates Sense Of Belonging At The University Of San Diego, Katherine Reyes

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

My purpose in this research was to understand how COVID-19 impacted undergraduate students’ sense of belonging at the University of San Diego. In doing so, I gained insight into how residential advisors (RAs) have been and are currently impacted by a sense of belonging at the University of San Diego. This research process consisted of three cycles. This research asked participants to describe how COVID-19 affected whether they found a sense of belonging and what steps they have taken to create a sense of belonging within their student leadership roles. All cycles of this research allowed participants to meet each …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Underrepresentation Of Division I Minority Women Athletic Directors, Jacquelyn K. Timmons

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate the factors women of color in athletic administration perceive to be contributors to the underrepresentation of minority women in Division I athletic director leadership positions. The study sought to identify and understand barriers that ostensibly impact women of color. Moreover, it serves current and future minority women to overcome similar trials to advance their collegiate athletic careers. Furthermore, the study sought to provide a lexicon of strategies that minority women regard as bridges to the racial and gender leadership gaps within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) organization. Previous studies are …

Fostering Connection Through Ecological Identity: Expanding Colonial Concepts Of Outdoor Adventures, Elizabeth Farrell

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

How can I foster ecological identity? Defining ecological identity as a sense of awareness of how one relates with nature, and identity as an ecological being that is nature, this action research project will explore the ways in which people connect to the natural world through everyday moments. In understanding that the foundations, practices, and industry messaging of the outdoors can be exclusive and perpetuate systems of oppression, I am seeking to expand the notion of what nature connection can be. The hope is to create more accessible, inclusive, and equitable outdoor education practices. Research design included a survey and …

On The State Of Academic Journals And The Value Of Jnams, Michael E. Dobbs

Journal of the North American Management Society

No abstract provided.

Leadership Doctorates Newsletter: Volume 9, Number 2, Larry Starr, Phd

Leadership Doctorates Newsletter (Formerly Strategic Leadership Newsletter)

In this issue:

• Doctoral Dissertation Updates
• Travis Douglas, DMgt
• John Ervin
• John Pourdehnad, Ph.D.
• Larry Hirschhorn, Ph.D.
• Elliot Cole, Ph.D.
• Larry M. Starr, Ph.D.

Leadership Doctorates Newsletter: Volume 9, Number 1 (Special Issue), Larry Starr, Phd

Leadership Doctorates Newsletter (Formerly Strategic Leadership Newsletter)

In this issue:

• ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW ENTERPRISE: Dr. Elliot Cole Launches Neuro-Hope

A Book Review Of The Nexus Of Teaching And Demographics: Context And Connections From Colonial Times To Today, Kristen Carlson

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

See Book Review.

Leading Business Schools, Julie Davies, Howard Thomas, Eric Cornuel, Rolf D. Cremer

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Business schools are critical players in higher education, educating current and future leaders to make a difference in the world. Yet we know surprisingly little about the leaders of business schools. Leading a Business School demystifies this complex and dynamic role, offering international insights into deans’ dilemmas in different contexts and situations. It highlights the importance of deans creating challenging and supportive learning cultures to enhance business and management education, organizations and society more broadly.Written by renowned experts on the role of the dean, Julie Davies, Howard Thomas, Eric Cornuel and Rolf D. Cremer, the book traces the historical evolution …

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 …