Digital Commons Network^™

Architecting A More Gender-Inclusive Curriculum For Graduate Leadership Education, Galen J. Talis

Libraries

Graduate leadership education is an important context for increasing gender-inclusivity. Incoming students are increasingly likely to support an all-gender approach; transgender and nonbinary graduate students report safety concerns on campus; and leadership scholars have identified serious discrimination against trans and nonbinary employees in the workplace as well as the need for greater gender-inclusivity in leadership education. Cis women and men are more widely recognized as gender-diverse, whether due to intersections with other identities or due to within-gender complexity. Yet researchers often fail to identify a gender theory when researching gender and leadership, most commonly assume a gender-binary frame, and do …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Secondary School Leaders Disciplining Black Students With Disabilities: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Conteous Arlene Hyman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of disciplining Black students with disabilities for school leaders at secondary schools in the southeastern region of the United States. The theory guiding this study was Glasser’s choice theory, as its sense of belonging may be resourceful for consideration by secondary school leaders during their disciplinary decision-making actions. The central research question for the study was: What are the lived experiences of secondary school leaders disciplining Black students with disabilities in a suburban district within the southeastern region of the United States? This qualitative study used convenience …

The Under-Enrollment Of Black And Latino Students In Stem Education: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of Vygotsky's Social Development Theory, Johnny Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of the under-enrollment of Black and Latino students in STEM programs in the Northeastern region of the United States. The problem is the impact of social development on the under-enrollment of Black and Latino students in STEM programs. As noted by Max van Manen, the qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological approach utilizes the social development theory by Lev Vygotsky as the theoretical framework to comprise an unbiased explanation of the research. The central research question, “What are the lived experiences of the under-enrollment of Black and Latino students in STEM …

Using Institutional Habitus To Position Colleges And Universities As Social Actors, Derria Byrd

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

In this article, derria byrd contends that more robust interrogation of the organizational contribution to inequity in higher education would be aided by understanding higher education organizations as social actors. Organizational social actor theory demonstrates that colleges and universities are more than inert contexts in which marginalized students' experiences and outcomes play out. They are entities that possess unique dispositional orientations, motives, and inclinations toward action. This conceptual article argues that engagement with institutional habitus, grounded in Pierre Bourdieu's theory of practice, situates colleges and universities as social actors whose structural positions generate interests, beliefs, and behaviors that tend …

Benefits, Challenges, And Strategies For Increasing Women Coaches In Elite Sport: The Trail To Gold (T2g) Initiative In U.S. Cross-Country Skiing, Anika Anna Angriman, Lynda B. Ransdell, Shelley Lucas, Nicole Lavoi

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Despite tremendous growth in sport participation of girls and women following Title IX in 1972, women’s participation as sport coaches did not follow the same trajectory. In fact, women remain significantly underrepresented in sport coaching. Research highlights ongoing barriers within the sport industry's patriarchal structure, and although strategies have been proposed to improve women’s representation, the lack of progress over the past two decades indicates limited effectiveness. A better approach is essential to address this issue across individual, interpersonal, organizational, and societal levels. The purpose of this study is to interview participants within the U.S. cross-country skiing program, Trail to …

Ways To Motivate Rural Tennessee Teachers To Use Best Instructional Practices In Elementary Classrooms, Holly Shoulders Anderson

Student Theses and Dissertations

While teachers are provided with professional development, they do not always use the best practices, which can negatively impact their students’ learning. This study addressed the problem of teachers not using the best, research-based instructional practices to instruct students in rural areas of Middle Tennessee. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the factors that motivate teachers to use the most effective classroom instructional practices to increase student achievement. The need to focus on building the capacity of teachers in rural areas follows Gary Becker’s Human Capital Theory. The research questions: What are the lived experiences of …

The Full Range Leadership Model (Frlm): Department Head Perceptions Of Leadership Style And Development, Stephanie Elaine Heroman

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to discover the perceived leadership styles of department heads as categorized by the Full Range Leadership Model (FRLM), developed by Avolio and Bass (1991). The FRLM categorizes leadership style along a continuum, from laissez-faire leadership, to transactional leadership, and ultimately transformational leadership. Even though department heads occupy a pivotal leadership role, many do not have formal leadership training, and instead rise to power through disciplinary expertise. This study will collect data on the experiences contributing to the development of leadership style in department heads. Understanding the leadership styles and experiences of department heads will …

The Lead, Late-Fall 2024, Lindenwood University

The Lead

The Lead is an electronic newsletter produced by the Lindenwood College of Education & Human Services.

Autoethnographic Action Research As A Contemplative Practice: Awareness And Transformation Of Inner And Outer Selves, Jiju Varghese, Bal Chandra Luitel, Niroj Dahal

The Qualitative Report

Contemplation as a spiritual practice has taken various forms across different religious traditions and regions worldwide. Over the years, various contemplative practices have evolved and become popular even outside religious traditions to promote the well-being of all for inner and outer selves’ transformation. In education, many scholars worldwide have expounded on the benefits of contemplative practices in the classroom for students and teachers. Contemplative practices have penetrated research practices in the form of contemplative inquiry considering performative, philosophical, and artistic transformations, where researchers enter into a deep, thoughtful, and reflective introspective journey to see the connection between what is seen …

A Phenomenological Study Exploring Superintendent’S Perceptions On Four Servant Leadership Characteristics For Developing High-Performing Teams, Katie Chin-Berry

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe public school superintendents’ perceived impact of four servant leadership characteristics established by Spears (2010) on developing and maintaining high-performing teams. Methodology: This phenomenological research study explored and detailed how superintendents perceived the influence of four servant leadership characteristics on developing and maintaining high-performing teams. Eight participants were chosen using nonprobability purposeful and convenience sampling based on specific criteria, which required at least 4 years of experience in their district, a minimum of 10 years of experience in the K–12 public school system, and employed in a K–12 district …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Online Business Faculty During The Transition To Offering Online Programs, Joseph Andrew Bakker

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of online business faculty at private nonprofit postsecondary institutions as their online programs were launched. The experiences of how business faculty encounter teaching online in new online business degree programs are essential for institutional leaders and faculty seeking to start new online programs at their institutions. The qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to gather the experiences of 10 business faculty at private nonprofit institutions who taught online and experienced their departments implementing a new online degree program. The participants' experiences were analyzed using Kotter’s (2012) theory for leading change. …

Ua51 Topscholar, Wku Archives

WKU Administration Documents

Newsletter created about the TopSCHOLAR institutional repository.

Delphi Study Of Possible, Probable, And Desirable Futures For California Community Colleges By 2035, Christopher Frymire

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this Delphi study was to identify and describe the educational changes to California Community Colleges that are possible and probable by 2035 as perceived by a panel of experts. In addition, the purpose was to determine the level of desirability of educational changes identified as probable by a panel of experts. Finally, the purpose was to describe the actions necessary to promote the desirable educational changes by 2035 as perceived by the expert panel.Methodology: This Delphi method was used to survey 18 community college experts from diverse disciplines. Four survey rounds gathered qualitative and quantitative data …

Impact Of Different Leadership Styles On Job Satisfaction Of Private Sector School Teachers In Private Schools In Pakistan, Saira Ali

Theses and Dissertations

he present study aims to investigate educational leadership styles i.e. Transformational and distributed leadership style, teacher job satisfaction, and student outcomes in secondary schools in Pakistan. The present study employed phenomenological interviews with a sample size of 5 teachers and 1 principal in order to investigate the potential relationship between transformational leadership styles and indicators of teacher satisfaction and student success. The findings of this research revealed a positive association between transformational leadership styles and both teacher satisfaction and student success. Positive school climates conducive to growth were fostered by leaders who demonstrated empathy, collaboration, and transparency. The challenges encountered …

The Role Of Colleges Of Pharmacy In Student Mental Health Support, Diana J. Patino

Theses and Dissertations

The college journey is not easy, particularly within the pharmacy program— students undergo significant transitions that include meeting new rigor levels and pace in professional coursework, establishing new peers and faculty relationships, and coping with high stress levels (Choi et al., 2019). This qualitative case study will investigate how a pharmacy program and its associated resources relate to student mental health support and how pharmacy students perceive the importance of mental health initiatives in their academic program experience.

The Implementation Of Social-Emotional Learning: The Role Of Leadership And Administrative Support In Producing Change, Joann M. Luisa

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation explores the administrative implementation and organizational change required for effective social-emotional learning (SEL) programs in K-12 schools. Through interviews with school educators, psychologists, social worker, deans, administrators and assistant superintendents along with analysis of implementation documents from multiple district buildings, this research examines the key factors, challenges, and best practices in implementing comprehensive SEL practices. The findings of this study imply that successful SEL implementation requires several collaborative alignments to be successful. District-wide commitment, planning for individual schools, and ongoing support and professional development for staff are vital to the success of this implementation. Strong leadership from …

Restorative Justice In Secondary Schools: Benefits, Challenges, And Academic Impact, Joseph S. Matia

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This literature review examines restorative justice practices in secondary education, focusing on academic outcomes and comparison with traditional disciplinary methods. Drawing from research published between 2013-2024, this review analyzes how restorative practices impact student achievement while exploring implementation challenges. The review addresses two questions: the impact of restorative practices on academic outcomes in secondary education, and how these practices compare to traditional methods regarding implementation requirements, sustainability, and student outcomes. After establishing theoretical and historical context, the review systematically examines empirical studies, identifying key implementation factors including professional development, stakeholder engagement, and resource allocation. Findings indicate that while restorative practices …

Interpreting Technology Proficiency In Stem Education: A Qualitative Study Of Teachers In The New York Region, Zachary Rosch

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the technology integration divide perceived by high school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) teachers within a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting a community of STEM educators across the New York region. The study examined educators' integration of technology in their classrooms, their challenges, professional development needs, and the impact of teaching experience on technology integration. Semi-structured interviews captured teachers' lived experiences regarding subject-specific technology integration, pedagogical strategies, and technological proficiency. The Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework guided the study, providing a lens to analyze how educators navigated the intersection of content knowledge, pedagogy, …

Exploring Students’ Feedback Literacy Through Asynchronous Writing Center Tutoring Sessions: A Mixed-Methods Study, Bobby Pelphrey

Theses and Dissertations

MLLs face linguistic and cultural complexities when engaging with writing feedback; however, writing center practices often follow monolingual models. This study examines how MLLs develop and apply feedback literacy—the ability to seek, interpret, and use feedback—compared to their non-MLL peers in asynchronous writing center consultations. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, the study integrates survey data from the Feedback Literacy Behavior Scale (FLBS) (N = 532; n = 146 MLLs, n = 386 non-MLLs) with qualitative case studies. The survey measured feedback-seeking behaviors, sense-making strategies, emotional regulation, and feedback application, while case studies used think-aloud protocols, semi-structured interviews, and revision analysis. …

From Accountability To Algorithms: Interorganizational Learning And The Transformation Of Quantification In Education, Jose Eos R. Trinidad

Interdisciplinary Studies Faculty Publications

While studies often explore the intended and unintended consequences of technologies, few have theorized how and why they change. One crucial transformation in quantitative technologies is the shift from evaluative accountability to predictive algorithms, such as in schools that use dropout prediction systems. Using the case of ninth-grade early warning indicators, I argue that the transformation of quantification resulted from interorganizational learning, or the acquisition of new knowledge through the interaction of different organizations. In particular, I show how technology changes gradually from organization-level evaluation to individual-based prediction to systems-focused improvement. Pivotal to such changes were new forms of knowledge …

A Multiple Case Study On Racial Equity Plan Implementation At Illinois Community Colleges, Jennifer Jennings

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

A MULTIPLE CASE STUDY ON RACIAL EQUITY PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AT ILLINOIS COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Jennifer R. Jennings, Ed.D.

Department of Counseling and Higher Education

Northern Illinois University, 2025

Jacqueline Mac, Director

Implementing racial equity plans in institutions of higher education requires institutional commitment and a shift in the organization processes, policies, and practices. Implementing organizational change in institutions of higher education is complicated and rife with opportunities for missteps. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to understand two community colleges implemented Illinois Equity in Attainment (ILEA) racial equity plans. Findings revealed that the colleges practiced “racial reticence” …

“Someone Else Saw Something In Me”: A Phenomenological Study Of Teacher Leadership Development In Catholic High Schools, Alicia Mitchell

Doctor of Education (EdD)

With many changes in K-12 education in recent years, especially in the aftermath of the COVID- 19 pandemic, schools are in need of new solutions to challenges. Teacher leadership may provide

an underutilized resource in addressing the myriad issues facing schools. This qualitative phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of teacher leaders in Catholic high schools in the Pacific Northwest. The participants in this study all serve as teacher leaders in one of four different Catholic high schools and participate in the Teacher Leadership Development program designed for K-12 educators in Catholic schools. Two semi-structured interviews with each of the …

Finding Evidence For Understanding The Level Of Technology Integration By Teacher Candidates: A Mixed Methods Analysis To Support Caep Standards, Jennifer R. Jackson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Accrediting bodies, such as the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), are increasingly focused on how teacher preparation programs integrate technology. As part of the Teacher Performance Assessment (TPA) teacher candidates demonstrate essential classroom skills through submission of teaching videos, lesson plans, and reflections. This study examined which of these three document types provides the strongest evidence of technology use among teacher candidates. Using a technology integration model, the Technology Integration Matrix (TIM), this study quantitatively assessed the levels of technology integration and characteristics of the learning environment visible in a stratified random sample of 150 submitted documents. …

Enacting Change In Student Support Services To Meet The Needs Of Evolving Student Demographics, Justin Schuch

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the change management leadership strategies employed by Chief Student Affairs Officers (CSAOs) to address the needs of an increasingly diverse student population at midwestern institutions of higher education. The change management leadership strategies employed by seven CSAOs to address the mismatch between the increasing diversity of college student populations and the institutions’ readiness to meet these students' diverse needs were drawn from using in-depth interviews, review of enrollment data, and institutional planning documents. The three research questions guiding this study yielded four major themes. The first theme is related to how CSAOs identify areas for development …

The Making Of A Champion Leader: Insights From The Diploma In Educational Leadership And Management Program In Uganda, West Nile Region, Nipael Mrutu, Richard Anywar, Kulwenza Rachael

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Purpose:

The purposeof this study was to examine the educational leadership development of 35 headteachers who participated in the Diploma in Educational Leadership and Management (DELM) program, a collaboration between Aga Khan University and Muni University under the Foundation for Learning (F4L) project. The study aimed to identify the professional development needs essential for enhancing leadership capacities in low-resource educational settings in Uganda.

Methodology:

We employed a mixed-methodsapproach using purposive sampling and transformational leadership theory as the framework. Quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires capturing demographic characteristics, professional experiences, and participation in professional development. Qualitative data wereobtained from semi-structured …

Resetting The Imposter Phenomenon Reality: A Mixed Methods Research Study Of An Immediate Cognitive Behavioral Intervention On Stem Practitioners, Peter D. Smith

Dissertations

Imposter Phenomenon (IP) remains an essential framework for understanding how professionals attribute success to chance or misconceptions rather than genuine abilities. IP is especially pertinent for individuals who feel like frauds when attaining higher positions, convinced the promotions resulted from luck rather than accomplishments and credibility. The misguided mindset cultivates feelings of inadequacy or deceit, even when accolades, experiences, and qualifications prove the contrary. The prevalence of IP is widespread, impacting numerous individuals who have faced or continue to endure episodes of varying intensity. The psychological state makes individuals vulnerable to feelings of inadequacy, leading to reduced productivity, increased procrastination, …

Women's And Men's Authorship Experiences: A Prospective Meta Analysis, George C. Banks, Lisa M. Rasmussen, Scott Tonidandel, Jeffrey M. Pollack, Mary M. Hausfeld, Courtney Williams, Betsy H. Albritton, Joseph A. Allen, Nicolas Bastardoz, John H. Batchelor, Andrew A. Bennett, Roman Briker, Christopher M. Castille, Bart A. De Jong, Elise Demeter, Justin A. Desimone, James G. Field, Maria Figueroa-Armijos, M. Fernanda Garcia, William L. Gardner, J. Jeffrey Gish, Laura M. Giurge, Claudia N. Gonzalez-Brambila, M. Gloria González-Morales, Lorenz Graf-Vlachy, Roopak Kumar Gupta, Amanda S. Hinojosa, Zion Howard, Sven Kepes, Tine Köhler, Dejun Tony Kong, Markus Langer, Teng Lat Loi, Liam P. Maher, Chao Miao, Murad A. Mithani, Lakshmi Balachandran Nair, William G. Obenauer, Ernest H. O'Boyle, Jason R. Pierce, Deborah M. Powell, Roni Reiter-Palmon, Deborah E. Rupp, Srinivasan Tatachari, Jane S. Thomas, Tiia Vissak, Jako Volschenk, Chen Wang, Christopher E. Whelpley, Hans-Georg Wolff, Haley M. Woznyj, Tao Yang

Management Faculty Publications

The opaqueness of author naming and ordering, when coupled with power dynamics, can lead to a number of disadvantages in academic careers. In this commentary, we investigate gender differences in authorship experiences in a large prospective meta-analytic study (k = 46; n = 3,565; 12 countries). We find that women’s and men’s authorship experiences differ significantly with women reporting greater prevalence of problematic behaviors. We present seven actionable recommendations for improving the receipt and reporting of intellectual credit. Such actions are needed to ensure fairness in authorship, which is one of the most powerful factors in academics’ career outcomes.

8. Developing A Framework And Multidimensional Evidence Matrix For Evaluating And Documenting Teaching Excellence At A Research-Intensive University, Raoul A. Mulder, Kate Tregloan

Documenting Teaching Excellence

On 19 August 2021, the Australian city of Melbourne marked an unenviable milestone: its citizens had recorded their 200th day enduring one of the longest and most arduous global lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contributors, Karin Dejonge-Kannan, Travis N. Thurston, Amanda Deliman, Amanda Morris, Anna Kuthy, Anne Cook, Beth Buyserie, Bethany B. Stone, Caroline Wienhold, Casandra E. Harper, Chris Kilgore, Cynthia Korpan, Elisabeth Schussler, Ferlin Mcgaskey, Gabrielle Stecher Woodward, Hannah Mae Lewis, James Agutter, Janette R. Hill, Jeff Spears, Jim Lamuth, Jordan Shipley, Kate Tregloan, Kim Hales, Letizia Guglielmo, Melissa E. Ko, Michael Morrone, Miranda Yaggi Rodak, Peggy Brickman, Raoul A. Mulder, Shannon M. Sipes, Sharon Lyman, Shihua Brazill, Stephen A. Klien, T. Adam Halstrom, Terri A. Dunbar, Victoria Mondelli, Vijay R. Kannan, Virginia Stormer

Documenting Teaching Excellence

No abstract provided.

Adaptive Leadership In Hbcus: Navigating Hybrid Work Dynamics In A Post-Pandemic Era, Brittney A. Brooks

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Leaders of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) institutions influence retention rates of HBCU employees. An organization's culture determines the behavior of its employees. When assumptions regarding organizational structure were made, communication about the company's expectations was often ignored, leading to employees becoming accustomed to the culture and resistant to change. This mindset hindered HBCU growth and the willingness to address the urgency for policy revisions. As institutions continue to transition post-COVID, adjusting human resource policies at HBCUs to cater to the individual needs of these employees is needed to maintain retention.

This exploratory mixed-methods research study investigated leadership in …