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Not Quite Foreign, Never Fully Belonging: Racialization Of Southbound Policy Students In Taiwan, Garima Jha

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

This paper critically examines how race and racialization shape the socio-cultural adjustment experiences of international students from New Southbound policy (NSP) countries in Taiwan. Drawing from a qualitative part conducted for my master’s thesis, which explored the coping strategies and adjustment processes of seven students from Southeast and South Asia through semi-structured interview, I reframe the data to center race as an analytical lens using the conceptual framework proposed by Glasgow (2009) which explains that racialization as the process through which social meanings are attached to perceived cultural or bodily differences, creating and maintaining hierarchies among groups. and Brondolo et …

Transnational Racialization: An Exploratory Case Study Of Asian International Students In U.S. Higher Education, Jia Zheng, Kristyn Lue

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

This exploratory case study examines the transnational racialization experiences of 14 ethnically diverse Asian International Students (AIS) studying abroad in the U.S. Using International Student Critical Race Theory to foreground the contexts of participants’ home countries, we ask: What are AIS’s experiences with transnational racialization? Findings suggest that AIS are socialized to the racial dynamics of the U.S. through: (1) the different contexts of their home countries, (2) their specific social positioning within these contexts, (3) the influence of Western narratives across the globe, and (4) their academic communities in the U.S. Our findings advance theoretical perspectives on racialization in …

Resurrecting Anti-Apartheid Solidarity: Scholasticide, Race, And The Politics Of Internationalization In Higher Education, Divinia Jithoo, Alia Gilbrecht

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

This paper interrogates how racialized internationalization and epistemic injustice shape global higher education through a comparative critical analysis of South African and Palestinian academic resistance. Drawing on decolonial theory (Du Plessis, 2021) and Fricker’s (2007) framework of epistemic injustice, we examine how scholasticide—the deliberate destruction of Palestinian educational institutions—reveals higher education as a targeted site of racialized domination rather than a neutral casualty of war. Our findings show that normalization, sustained through Global South partnerships with Israeli institutions, functions as a racialized mode of internationalization that obscures complicity in settler-colonial violence. These dynamics are reinforced by transnational anti-Palestinian racism, a …

Inclusions And Illusions: Transnational Matrix Of Subordination & The (In)Visible Hierarchies Among Racialized International Students In Ontario Universities, Shamiga S. Arumuhathas

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

This study critically examines the (in)visible racial hierarchies experienced by racialized international students (IS) within Ontario’s (HE) education landscape amid populist, anti-immigration backlash and expanding internationalization. Guided by Critical Race Theory (CRT) and intersectionality, this research employed narrative inquiry with 14 self-identified racialized IS at 2 public universities. Core research questions include: How do racialized IS experience belonging, racism, and institutional EDID (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Decolonization) in present-day Ontario? How do EDID and internationalization policies obscure or reinforce racial hierarchies? Findings reveal a transnational matrix of subordination: White IS remain proxies for institutional belonging, while racialized and domestic students act …

Decolonizing Raciolinguistic Ideologies In Institutions Of Higher Learning, Chantelle M. August-Mowers, Samantha M. Hoffman

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

This article examines how raciolinguistic ideologies shape global higher education (HE), highlighting the intersection of language, race, and systemic inequalities. English often functions as a gatekeeper, privileging certain knowledge systems while marginalizing students and faculty from the Global South (Flores & Rosa, 2015; Pennycook, 2007). Structural inequities persist in faculty recruitment, international student selection, and academic publishing, reflecting colonial legacies and epistemic injustice (Canagarajah, 2013; Quijano, 2000). Racialized and linguistically marginalized students experience exclusion, microaggressions, and limited mobility, revealing contradictions between diversity rhetoric and institutional practices (Sekaja, 2022; Enslin, 2024). The study advocates decolonial and multilingual interventions, including translanguaging, inclusive …

Effects Of Human-Animal Interaction On Positive Youth Development: A Replication Study, Allison Pachunka, Jay Jeffries, Lisa Karr, Lena Luck, Bryan A. Reiling, Douglas H. Schultz, Jeffrey R. Stevens

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Interacting with animals can improve health and well-being across the lifespan. Some programs such as 4-H and FFA center around youth interacting with animals, potentially enhancing youth development. Mueller (2014) investigated whether these interactions and attitudes about animals influenced measures of positive youth development. The aim of our studies was to replicate Mueller’s methods and extend her work by evaluating whether membership in animal-focused youth programs moderate associations between interactions, attitudes, and positive youth development. We did not find strong relationships among human–animal inter-action and positive youth development, which failed to replicate Mueller’s findings. However, we did find relationships between …

K–3 Teachers’ Perspectives Regarding Learnable Intelligence As A Developmental Target And Their Advocacy For Students’ Cognitive Capabilities, Eleanor Nkechi Maduako

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Extensive research shows the brain is malleable and, with experience and knowledge, intelligence can grow. The research problem addressed through this study was that the extent of early childhood educators' knowledge of learnable intelligence and their advocacy for advancement of children’s cognitive capabilities as a developmental goal were unknown. Guided by Perkins’s theory of learnable intelligence, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore K–3 teachers’ perspectives on learnable intelligence as a developmental target and how they advocate for children’s cognitive capabilities in their classrooms. In vivo and axial coding of data from semistructured interviews with 12 participants …

Belonging And Whole Person Formation In Graduate Education: A Conceptual Framework For Student Flourishing, Cynthia Hickman

Papers

Graduate students experience substantial academic, personal, and professional demands that can negatively affect well-being and persistence. For students enrolled in professional programs, belonging may develop within two overlapping communities: the academic institution and the emerging profession. Institutional and professional belonging can provide connection, support, engagement, and opportunities for identity and professional development. This paper synthesizes literature on these two forms of belonging and proposes a conceptual framework describing their potential relationship with whole-person formation and flourishing. Whole-person formation extends graduate education beyond knowledge acquisition and professional competence to include development across interconnected dimensions of the person. Within the proposed framework, …

What Do Children Think About Bouncy Bands: A Mixed Methods Examination Of Bouncy Bands' Influence On Attention And Physical Activity, Ken Murfay, Sarah Collins

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Purpose: To examine how bouncy bands put onto elementary students’ classroom desks influenced students’ physical activity and attention/concentration, in addition to exploring students’/teachers’ opinions of the bands. Methods: Students within both experimental and control groups wore pedometers to assess movement during instruction and completed the d2 test for attention. Results: The group with bouncy bands on the desks had significantly more movement compared to the control group. For d2 scores, there was no significant difference between the two groups, nor was there a significant linear relationship between movement and d2 scores. Interviews were conducted with the students in the experimental …

Literacy Hubs: Human-Centered, Coordinated Approach Towards Advancing Adult Literacy In A Community, Alexandria M. Marzolf

Masters Projects

Low adult literacy skills have been a pervasive and persistent challenge in the United States for more than a century. One in five adults (21%) possesses low literacy skills (National Center for Education Statistics, 2026), a finding consistent with statistics reported by the National Literacy Institute (2024). Despite decades of educational reform, many adults continue to experience limited access to coordinated, community-based literacy support. The purpose of this master's project was to develop a community-based Literacy Hub framework designed to increase access to adult literacy learning opportunities through coordinated partnerships and community engagement. An extensive review of educational research, community …

Exploring The Motivations Of Undergraduate Sport Management Students, Kyle J. Brannigan, Tyler J. Hajek

The COSMA Journal

This study explored the motivations of undergraduate sport management in four university programs. Convergent mixed-methods research through the theoretical framework of Self-Determination Theory was incorporated with an adapted questionnaire of the Academic Motivation Scale and semi-structured interviews through Thematic Analysis. Ninety-six surveys with nine interviews were deemed usable across four regionally focused, vocationally minded, and accessible universities. Overall, students reported higher levels of extrinsic motivation than intrinsic motivation. The findings suggested intrinsic motivation to know and extrinsic motivation through regulation for identification scored highest with the participants. No significant differences were found between classes and ethnicities. However, male students experienced …

Revisiting The Flutie Effect: The Impact Of Collegiate Athletics On College Choice, Robin Hardin, Michelle L. Childs, Win G-Y Koo

The COSMA Journal

This study revisits the Flutie Effect by examining factors that influence a student’s college choice which includes the role of athletics and its brand. The study assessed items related to academics, interpersonal influences, campus culture, and athletics through a survey of first-year students. An exploratory factor analysis produced a seven-factor model explaining 71.51% of the variance. The strongest factor was emotional and behavioral identification with university athletics, reflecting fandom, affiliation, and pride in athletic success. Athletics significantly influenced college choice, but their impact extends beyond athletic success to include broader dimensions of branding, fandom, and affiliation. For institutions seeking to …

Fieldwork Educators' Perspectives On Occupational Therapy Students Addressing Sexuality And Intimacy: Expectations, Supports, And Barriers, Elizabeth Deluca-Berg

Student Dissertations

Sexuality and intimacy are recognized as meaningful occupations within occupational therapy practice; however, they remain inconsistently addressed in clinical care. Previous research has identified limited educational preparation as a contributing factor to occupational therapists' discomfort and lack of confidence in addressing these occupations. Although classroom instruction provides foundational knowledge, Level II fieldwork serves as the primary setting in which students apply knowledge within authentic clinical environments. Despite the central role of FW educators in facilitating students' professional development, little research has explored how they prepare OT students to address sexuality and intimacy during fieldwork. The purpose of this basic qualitative …

Dis/Ability Critical Race Theory In The Early Childhood Education Classroom, Milo Knickerbocker

Masters Projects

Data shows that many Black and Disabled students are underserved in their current learning environments. This project provides a theoretical introduction to Dis/ability Critical Race Theory (DisCrit), as well as guidance on how to incorporate the theory into the early childhood education setting. This is done in attempt to provide a more equitable and inclusionary learning environment.  This project incorporates a data-driven professional development program surrounding DisCrit and incorporation of anti-racist and anti-ableist inclusionary teaching methods, for the betterment of all students.

Self-Regulation For Early Childhood Classrooms, Emily Fox

Masters Projects

The ability to self-regulate is essential for young children's social, emotional, behavioral, and academic development. However, growing exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), toxic stress, family instability, and other social and environmental stressors has contributed to challenges in the development of these skills. Children with underdeveloped self-regulation skills are more likely to experience difficulties with executive functioning, peer relationships, classroom behavior, and school readiness, demonstrating the need for early intervention. The purpose of this master's project was to investigate the major social and environmental stressors affecting young children's self-regulation and to develop a research-based intervention to support self-regulation development in …

Teaching Writing With Confidence: A Professional Learning Series To Build Special Education Teachers' Knowledge And Self-Efficacy For Explicit Writing Instruction, Lindsay E. Bowen

Masters Projects

Writing is an essential skill used to communicate ideas effectively, assess understanding, and demonstrate critical thinking across educational and workplace settings. Yet, research demonstrates that a majority of special education teacher preparation programs do not offer standalone courses in writing instruction methods, leaving many special education teachers to enter the profession with limited knowledge of effective writing instruction for students with high-incidence disabilities. This project explores current research on effective sentence-level writing instruction for students with high-incidence disabilities, as well as a research-based approach for applying these practices in a systematic yet adaptable manner to meet the needs of individual …

The Role Of Parents In Supporting Student Learning At Home, Lindsey M. Deblaay

Masters Projects

This study addresses the pedagogical disconnect between modern, inquiry-based mathematics instruction and traditional caregiver support structures. While caregiver involvement has proved to be helpful in student achievement, systematic barriers that limit family’s capacity, parent self-efficacy and their willingness to use learning strategies at home, the perception of the parent role of caregivers in their child’ s education makes it difficult. The curriculum prioritizes conceptual number sense and critical thinking rather than rote standard algorithm, so it has created a barrier in parent support among caregivers with these instructional shifts. It diminishes parent self-efficacy particularly in fifth grade. The project features …

Artificial Intelligence In Central Arkansas School Districts: A Phenomenological Study Of Practices, Polices, And Perceptions, Alana M. Graham

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

Artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved at a fast rate and has created both opportunities and challenges for public school districts. As AI technologies continue to emerge, limited research exists regarding how school districts in central Arkansas are integrating AI into instructional and administrative practices. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore district-level administrators’ perceptions and experiences regarding the integration of artificial intelligence in public school districts in central Arkansas. The study was guided by Diffusion of Innovations Theory and the Technology Acceptance Model, and examined current AI practices, policy development, perceived benefits and challenges, and barriers associated with …

Understanding And Responding To Childhood Trauma In The Classroom, Kara L. Ganzer

Master of Arts in Human Services

This capstone explored childhood trauma as a significant public health and educational issue because of its widespread impact on children’s development, learning, behavior, and educational experiences. A review of the current literature was conducted to examine adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), the neurobiological and developmental effects of childhood trauma, its impact within educational settings, and the trauma-informed approaches for supporting students who have experienced adversity. The literature suggested that childhood trauma can disrupt brain development, executive functioning, emotional regulation, attention, memory, and stress-response systems, contributing to academic, behavioral, and social-emotional challenges within the classroom. Findings also highlighted the important role schools …

Inclusion Support For Early Childhood Educators, Victoria Parker

Masters Projects

Some general education teachers are not prepared to support the diverse needs of young students with disabilities being included in general education classrooms. Research shows that teacher preparation is a vital component to creating high-quality inclusive classrooms for young children. Preparing teachers for teaching in inclusive classrooms starts in college, and needs to continue throughout teaching careers to encourage and support the implementation of new strategies. Research also shows that training and preparedness for the challenges of working with students with diverse needs in the general education classroom affects staff attitudes and willingness to collaborate. The purpose of this project …

Methodologies For Encouraging Creative Expression Within The Curriculum, Ian D. Martzke

Masters Projects

Many students struggle to find creative expression within the school curriculum. Indeed, since the 1990s we have seen a rise in average IQ but a reduction in scores through the Torrance Test for Creative Thinking (TTCT) (Kim, 2011). In the course of this project several methodologies for creative problem solving will be described and several lessons will be described that will both explain and model these methodologies of creative problem solving. These lessons will utilize the creative process (Wallas, 1926) and be written to include student choice (Hogan et al. 2020) specifically, within the instructional framework known as Teaching for …

A Structured Independent Reading Framework To Promote Reading Engagement And Literacy Achievement In Elementary Classrooms, Linda K. Bush

Masters Projects

State and national assessment data indicate declining reading achievement and decreasing reading engagement among elementary students. At the same time, increasing instructional demands and accountability pressures have reduced opportunities for students to participate in meaningful Independent Reading, despite decades of research demonstrating its value for literacy development. Research consistently suggests that Independent Reading is most effective when students are provided with protected reading time, meaningful choice, access to engaging texts, instructional support, opportunities for discussion, reflection, and authentic literacy experiences.

This master’s project presents a Structured Independent Reading Framework, which is a research-based instructional framework designed for elementary classrooms that …

Preparing Newly-Hired Elementary Teachers For Evidence-Based Reading Instruction Through Professional Development, Sierra Rose Anthony

Masters Projects

There is a growing need to equip teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to foster student growth in reading. The problem addressed in this project is that many newly-hired teachers lack the knowledge, confidence, and instructional coaching needed to effectively implement evidence-based literacy practices in conjunction with high-leverage teaching practices. Newly-hired teachers include teachers who are new to a district, both those who have transferred from another school and those who are just beginning their teaching careers. This project proposes a year-long professional development program that equips newly-hired teachers with evidence-based literacy practices and high-leverage teaching practices through explicit …

Centering As Contemplative Inquiry And Practice: Teaching, Learning, And Living In The Anthropocene, Jennifer L. Schneider

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

The Anthropocene may be an inescapable trap—one unwittingly shaped by human ways of relating to self, others, and the more-than-human world. While dominant discourses surrounding this epoch often evoke fear, apocalypse, or blame, how might it also invite us, as humans, into an opportunity for more holistic and contemplative education. This paper explores “centering,” a contemplative concept and practice introduced by curriculum theorist James Macdonald (1995), as a regenerative way of engaging with the Anthropocene through lived experience. Drawing from research on a graduate-level place-based course and an arts-based, pragmatic inquiry, I explore how centering can foster attunement to place, …

Anatomy Of Success: Unveiling Key Resources For A Stand-Alone Occupational Therapy Anatomy Course, Annika Knuth, Sophia Wilkes, Julia Huber, Graci Leineberg, Rebecca Ozelie

Student Journal of Occupational Therapy

Anatomy is a complex curriculum involved in occupational therapy education. This study aimed to investigate occupational therapy (OT) students’ perceived usefulness of resources offered in a stand-alone anatomy course within their program. A survey was administered to 284 OT students enrolled in accredited programs who had completed a stand-alone anatomy course. The survey assessed the resources available, their usage, and the perceived benefit to students' learning. Results indicated that open labs and teaching assistants were perceived as the most valuable resources for student success, while print/electronic textbooks and office hours were perceived as the least beneficial. These findings suggest that …

A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study Of A 10-Week Wellness Program For Resident Assistants, Emily L. Lee-Chong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods pilot study used semi-structured interviews with 15 resident assistants (RAs), complemented by descriptive pre- and post-test data from the Five Factor Wellness Inventory (FFWEL), to explore their lived experiences of participating in a 10-week wellness program grounded in the Indivisible Self Model of Wellness (IS-WEL). The purpose of this study was to examine the program's perceived influence on wellness practices and to explore the feasibility of implementing wellness-focused programming. Using a hermeneutic inquiry approach, the study identified four themes reflecting participants’ experiences throughout the program. Themes highlighted the importance of self-awareness through the IS-WEL model, the value of …

Disengagement And Reconnection: Investigating The Role Of Purpose And Identity Seeking Across Career Stages In Healthcare, Charmel Renee Jeffery

Radiologic Sciences

Purpose To examine the generational purpose gap in healthcare by identifying the psychological and environmental factors underlying early-career disengagement and late-career reconnection.

Method An integrative literature review was conducted using four academic databases. An artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted thematic synthesis was applied to extract and organize findings within a standardized analytic matrix. To ensure accuracy and rigor, all AI-generated outputs were validated against the original source data.

Results Two primary themes emerged. Early-career healthcare workers commonly experienced disengagement associated with destiny beliefs, while later-career professionals demonstrated renewed purpose and resilience despite ongoing stressors.

Discussion The findings revealed a pronounced generational divide …

English Language Arts Remedial Teachers’ Perspectives On Strategies To Close The Academic Achievement Gap Of Minority High School Students, Barbara Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed throughout this study is that 53% of minority students do not reach proficiency on the English Language Arts (ELA) portion of the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking test compared to the 42% of other student populations at Grover High School (GHS, a pseudonym), a large and diverse high school, despite targeted school improvement interventions each school year. Grounded in Ladson-Billings’s culturally relevant pedagogy, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate ELA remedial teachers’ perspectives on reading strategies and instructional planning tools that might help minority students close the academic achievement gap. Semistructured …

Effective Leadership Strategies To Retain For-Profit Education Employees After A Leadership Change, Kimberly Keene

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective leadership transitions in for profit higher education erode employee morale, trust, and retention. Higher education business leaders recognize that ineffective leadership transitions can contribute to employee disengagement, reduced organizational commitment, and increased turnover, undermining institutional stability, workforce continuity, and organizational performance. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore the effective leadership strategies used by for-profit education institution leaders to retain key employees after a change in leadership. The participants were 10 leaders employed at for-profit higher education institutions in the southern United States who had successfully implemented leadership strategies …

Social Isolation In Adults Living With Schizophrenia: The Potential Role Of Group Psychodrama, Nguyen Thuy Duyen Pham

International Programs

No abstract provided.