Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commons^™

Neurodiversity In The Workplace: Organizational Approaches To Supporting Neurodiverse Employees, Madison Vasquez

M.S. in Leadership

Despite growing conversation around neurodiversity in the workplace, many organizations lack clear understanding and structured strategies to support neurodivergent employees. This study examines existing research on how organizations can more effectively support neurodiverse employees across the employee lifecycle. Using a qualitative literature review, this study addresses the research question by examining literature on neurodiversity within workplace contexts. This includes investigating common representations of neurodiversity and reviewing the strengths and challenges of neurodiverse individuals, including those who have autism, ADHD, and other forms of neurodivergence. The study also reviews workplace barriers, support strategies, and organizational outcomes identified across the literature. Key …

Neurodiversity Works--Literally: A Scoping Review Of Neurodivergence In The Workplace, Daisy V. Dimatos

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

In recent years, the importance of utilizing inclusive practices in the workplace has become much more widely-known, especially in regards to supporting neurodivergent employees. The systemic barriers and challenges faced by neurodivergent job-seekers and employees mean this population is often limited in their employment prospects, in turn depriving human resources professionals and their organizations of the chance to hire and benefit from diverse talent. As neurodivergent individuals exist within the workforce and general public, it is critical that organizations properly accommodate their needs in order to ensure optimal inclusivity, business efficiency, and productivity. This scoping review of the literature on …

Generations At Work: Examining Differences In The Nonprofit Sector, Cory J. Bergeron

Dissertations

This non-experimental quantitative dissertation examined generational differences among non-management employees in the United States nonprofit sector, where multiple generational cohorts work side by side. The problem addressed is that nonprofit leaders’ limited understanding of how distinct generational experiences shape employees’ work-related attitudes and preferences can contribute to conflict, reduced engagement, and costly turnover in already resource-constrained organizations. Grounded in Mannheim’s generational theory and Becker’s human capital theory, the study conceptualized generational cohorts as groups whose shared formative experiences influence what they value in their work context and how those values translate into human capital that affects organizational outcomes.

Using a …

A Phenomenological Study: Examining Organizational Change Initiatives Within The U.S. Army To Influence Racial Climate, Reginald Gerald Dash Ii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research study was aimed at examining organizational change initiatives influencing the racial climate among African American soldiers in the United States (U.S.) Army. African Americans comprise a significant portion of the U.S. Army. However, African Americans’ significant contributions do not readily translate into “equal treatment”, which includes proportional representation at the highest levels of leadership. African Americans in the U.S. Army face career navigation challenges rooted in systemic racial division. The goal of this qualitative phenomenological study was to add African American soldiers’ voices to the existing literature by interviewing African American soldiers with at least five years of …

The Missing Step To Equality: Feminist Readings Of The Broken Rung, Putri Rizky, Muhammad Irfan Syaebani, Rofikoh Rokhim

International Conference on Business and Management Research (ICBMR)

Women’s underrepresentation in leadership remains a persistent global challenge, often analyzed through the metaphor of the glass ceiling. While this concept highlights barriers at the top of organizational hierarchies, it fails to capture the earlier and more foundational obstacle of the broken rung: women’s disproportionate exclusion from their first promotion into managerial positions. This research employs a desk analysis to examine the causes, mechanisms, and implications of the broken rung within the Indonesian context, linking it to three theoretical frameworks: liberal feminism, symbolic violence, and intersectionality.

The study finds that from a liberal feminist perspective, the broken rung …

Does Pay Really Matter? How Financial Compensation Affects Turnover Intention Through Supervisor Support, Career Adaptability, And Flexible Work Policies (A Case Study Of Greater Jakarta-Indonesia’S Food & Beverage Industry), Sudarmono Sudarmono, Margono Setiawan, Dodi Wirawan Irawanto, Ainur Rofiq

International Conference on Business and Management Research (ICBMR)

This study investigates the mechanism through which financial compensation influences turnover intention within Indonesia's Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, with a specific focus on the potential mediating roles of supervisor support, career adaptability, and flexible work arrangements. A quantitative methodology was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire administered to a random sample of 271 staff-level employees from FMCG companies operating in the Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek) region. The collected data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with partial least squares (PLS) to test the proposed hypotheses. The results demonstrate that financial compensation exerts a significant negative effect on turnover intention. Furthermore, …

Gender Dynamics In Upward Influence: Career Outcomes And Organizational Implications, Carrie Berg Ed.D.

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

This study explores gender-based differences in the perceptions and outcomes of upward influence strategies within nonprofit organizations. Using qualitative thematic analysis grounded in Social Role Theory and Impression Management Theory, this research draws from structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with 37 professionals across diverse nonprofit sectors. Findings reveal that men’s influence efforts are more frequently perceived as credible and authoritative, while similar strategies used by women are often subjected to increased scrutiny and bias. Key themes include gendered influence styles, differential recognition and credibility, mental and emotional labor, organizational gatekeeping, leadership receptivity, and informal networks. The study contributes to understanding …

"Nobody Forced My Mom To Stay Home": College Men’S Perspectives On Parental Leave, Marisa Conners

Student Publications

From "The Second Shift" to Claudia Goldin’s Nobel Prize-winning research on women in the labor market, the inequities affecting women in the labor market have been widely documented. However, progress on this issue has been largely one-sided on behalf of women, perpetuating gender inequality. The goal of my research is to understand how social subgroup values influence male-identifying Gettysburg College students’ predictions on how they will engage with parental leave. This project gathered information on ways to increase male uptake of parental leave, which, if implemented, will help improve gender equity in the labor market.

How are male-identifying Gettysburg College …

A Place To Perform: Designing Spaces For Student Artists Through Event Planning, Ava R. Jacobsen

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This thesis examines the creation of accessible performance spaces for student artists not enrolled in formal music programs. To address this gap, two First Friday events were hosted at The Gathering Grove in Lincoln, Nebraska, providing platforms for local student performers and engaging the community in live art experiences. The first event, an open mic night, highlighted the challenges of spontaneous performances, while the second, featuring designated performers, tested more structured event planning strategies.

Both events emphasized the importance of marketing, venue layout, audience engagement, and operational organization. Key lessons included the need for contingency planning, multi-channel promotion, and clearly …

Review Of Manufacturing Employees’ Experiences Of An Inclusive Workplace And Career Advancement, Abdi Mahad

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

The Constant Outsider: Black Women At The Intersection Of Bias And Brilliance, Michelle Hector

Organization, Leadership, and Communication

The complexity of Black women in the workplace includes racism, sexism, and countless barriers that challenge their success. Nevertheless, there are unique experiences of many women that climb their industries’ ladders and overcome adversity. This qualitative study included 28 Black executive women, mostly from Oakland who shared their strategies for success. Many of their journeys included adversity, however, they persevered. The data from this study was collected through a town hall meeting of 22 Black participants who shared their career pathways toward success. There were also focus groups that further explored how the constant outsiders sustained their positions. The results …

The Future Of Human Resources: Opportunities And Challenges Of Ai Integration, Julianna Cutcher

The Downtown Review: An Interdisciplinary Journal Written and Peer-Reviewed by Mandel Honors College Students at Cleveland State University

Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved, revolutionizing technological operations and reshaping business processes for greater speed and efficiency. In human resources (HR), AI offers transformative potential across key functions such as recruitment, compensation, employee management, and decision-making. It can enhance employee experience, engagement, and satisfaction while improving accuracy, saving time, and reducing costs. Despite these benefits, integrating AI into HR presents challenges, including privacy concerns, algorithmic bias, ethical dilemmas, limited technical capabilities, and resistance to change. Addressing these barriers requires a human-centric approach that thoughtfully incorporates AI into HR practices, ensuring ethical use and fostering trust among stakeholders.

Workplace Diversity In A Diverse World: Why Inclusion And Ethics Matter, Julianna Cutcher

The Downtown Review: An Interdisciplinary Journal Written and Peer-Reviewed by Mandel Honors College Students at Cleveland State University

As global populations grow and evolve, diversity becomes an increasingly prominent and complex characteristic of society and the workplace. Diversity encompasses the vast array of individual differences and similarities among people, affecting how organizations operate and interact. In the United States, the diversity index rose to 61.1% in 2020, reflecting a significant demographic shift. However, promoting diversity alone is insufficient; effective management also requires attention to equity and inclusion. Organizations must foster ethical workplace cultures that support diverse perspectives through comprehensive training, employee development, and inclusive policies. By embracing a holistic approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), businesses can …

Supplemental Files For "From Knowledge To Practice: Deia Perspectives, Faith-Based Policies, And Job Postings", Sarah E. Keil, Meredith Ader, Gina K. Bolger, Ryan Yoakum

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Supplemental files for the book chapter, "From Knowledge to Practice: DEIA Perspectives, Faith-Based Policies, and Job Postings." Tge job posting spreadsheet and reference list are available below.

Job Posting Spreadsheet

The PDF of the Job Posting Spreadsheet includes the following items:

• A comprehensive spreadsheet of the job ads used in this project, with additional information about the institution included (DEIA statement, affiliations, accreditation, etc.)

• A spreadsheet with other information about the institutions, including links to statements of faith, missional documents, etc.

• A spreadsheet with information about how DEIA is defined by various organizations and accrediting bodies

• Color coding key

• An …

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Women In The Australian Mining Industry, Michelle Gander, Fleur Sharafizad, Aglae Hernandez Grande, Heidi Vivian, Mahan Poorhosseinzadeh, Kate Blackwood

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This report synthesises existing research on women’s participation in the Australian mining industry to identify the structural and cultural factors shaping gender inequality across the sector.

Drawing on research conducted over the past four decades, the report brings together what is currently known about how mining workplaces operate and how organisational practices, work arrangements, and site cultures shape the experiences of women across the sector. While many companies have introduced diversity and inclusion initiatives aimed at improving gender balance, the evidence suggests that challenges persist in areas such as operational roles, leadership pathways, and workplace culture.

Specifically, the report examines …

Too Warm To Lead? How Motherhood And Racioethnicity Shape Perceptions Of Warmth And Competence, Patricia Guerrero

Management Dissertations

Women continue to face workplace bias, including wage disparities (Fry & Aragao, 2025) and barriers to advancement like the glass ceiling (Babic & Hansez, 2021). For mothers these challenges are compounded by stereotypes tied to their maternal status, such as assumptions about reduced commitment and the motherhood penalty (Arena Jr. et al., 2023). Research shows mothers are often viewed as warmer but less competent than non-mothers, which can hinder career progression (Cuddy et al., 2004; Heilman & Okimoto, 2008). Racial and ethnic stereotypes further shape perceptions, with Black women often labeled as “aggressive” and Latinas as “nurturing” (Ghavami & Peplau, …

Why We Stayed, Why We Left: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of Hispanic/Latino Child Welfare Professionals’ Experiences Of Organizational And Safety Culture, Cynthia Franco

Theses and Dissertations

This hermeneutic phenomenological study examines the lived experiences of Hispanic/Latino child welfare professionals who were formerly employed at a large urban public child welfare agency. Despite the growing representation of Hispanic/Latino children and families in child welfare systems and the strong vocational commitment of Hispanic/Latino professionals, this group remains underrepresented in the workforce and experiences notable patterns of early attrition. Grounded in safety science and psychological safety frameworks, this study explores how organizational culture, leadership practices, and identity-related dynamics shape professional meaning-making, well-being, and decisions to remain in or leave the field.

Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews and …

Design Thinking For Corporate Social Responsibility Program Proposal Creation, Michelle "Mindy" D. Danovaro

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study used action research to explore how the use of design thinking engaged employees in the creation of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program proposal in a small- to medium-enterprises (SME) in the Sacramento region of California. The purpose of the study was to assess whether employee participation in a design thinking exercise could improve employee perception of engagement, inclusion, and reciprocity during the CSR program proposal creation. The study was grounded in social exchange theory, stakeholder theory, and design thinking methodologies. The iterative research process followed action research cycles (i.e., plan, act, observe, and reflect) integrated with …

Politics As Usual: Racial Pay Inequity And The Illusion Of Inclusion In The Rise And Fall Of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Accessibility Executive Orders, Francois C. Melville

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This research examines pressing moral policy questions of our time: who determines when the United States of America has fulfilled its broken promise of equality for all, and what constitutes an appropriate measure of reparative justice. It interrogates why the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Executive Orders (EOs) implemented across presidential administrations, intended to advance social equity, were grounded in conflict and symbolic gestures rather than scientifically evidenced issues such as wage inequality directly linked to upward career mobility. Race conscious policy generates cultural clashes centered on the perception that gains made by Black and Brown Americans come at the …

Empowering Equity: Latinas In Leadership – Navigating Work-Life Balance In The Post-Pandemic Era, Teresa Excinia

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the lived experiences of Latina leaders as they navigated how cultural expectations influenced work–life balance in the post-pandemic era. The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped workplace dynamics, blurring boundaries between professional responsibilities and personal life. For Latinas, these challenges were compounded by cultural expectations that shaped their roles both at home and in the workplace. The purpose of this study was to understand how Latina leaders managed the dual pressures of balancing career demands with cultural and familial obligations. Using Testimonio as the methodological framework, this study captured the voices and narratives of Latina leaders across industries, offering an …