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Senior-Level Administrators’ Perceptions Of Deliberately Developmental Organization Principles And Employee Retention At Historically Black Colleges And Universities (Hbcus), Caprinia L. Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have faced persistent challenges retaining qualified faculty and staff, threatening the environments they are uniquely positioned to create. High turnover, limited professional development, and inadequate support undermine employee well-being and student outcomes. This qualitative phenomenological study explored senior-level administrators’ perceptions of deliberately developmental organization (DDO) principles and their relevance to employee retention at HBCUs. Guided by DDO and organizational culture theory, the study examined how leadership practices, professional development, psychological safety, and organizational culture intersect with retention and belonging. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with participants across diverse HBCU contexts. Participants were selected …

Understanding The Implications Of Transitional Shifts In Leadership On Higher Education Employees' Departures: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Leya Deickman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of employees who chose separation amidst the transition of a new president at small private higher education institutions in the United States. This study aimed to understand how collegiate and university presidential leadership transitions influence employees’ perception of their decision making process to voluntary leave their respective institutions. The theory guiding this study was Homans’ social exchange theory, as it explains social interactions as an exchange using a cost benefit analysis. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of employees who choose separation amidst the …

The Implications Of The Midyear Departure Of Residence Directors In Housing And Residential Life, Chelsea Titus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High attrition rates among entry-level student affairs professionals have been documented for decades, yet little research has examined the implications of midyear departures within housing and residential life. Residence directors serve as live-in professionals responsible for crisis response, student conduct, staff supervision, and community development. When a midyear departure occurs, the disruption extends beyond the vacancy and affects supervisors, colleagues, and residential communities. The problem addressed in this study was the organizational and supervisory impact of midyear residence director departures. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry was to examine the factors contributing to midyear departures and to explore how …

Empowering Change: Building Environmental Sustainability Initiatives And Becoming A Sustainability Champion, Amanda C. Karls

School of Public Service Theses & Dissertations

In an era marked by escalating environmental challenges and an urgent need for sustainable development, higher education institutions (HEIs) are increasingly positioned as critical actors in advancing sustainability within the communities they serve. Regional comprehensive universities (RCUs), in particular, occupy a distinctive position as access‑oriented, community‑embedded public institutions; yet sustainability efforts at these institutions often unfold under conditions of limited resources, diffuse responsibility, and informal governance. This dissertation examines how individual actors at RCUs effectively advance environmental sustainability initiatives in the absence of centralized infrastructure or formal authority.

Guided by the overarching research question—How can individual actors at regional comprehensive …

Department Chair: Perceived Training Needs, Holly M. Clifford

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Holly M. Clifford on March 18, 2026.

Beyond Alumni Dollars: Developing Engagement With Graduate Alumni, Kyra J. Snyder

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Alumni engagement plays an increasingly important role in supporting graduate program mission, reputation, and long-term sustainability. Despite its recognized value, limited research examines alumni engagement within graduate level programs from a practitioner perspective. The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of alumni engagement among alumni, faculty, and staff within the University of South Florida (USF) Physician Assistant Program and to identify any needs or gaps in current engagement opportunities. This study employed a survey-based research design to gather data from two stakeholder groups from the USF PA Program: alumni and faculty/staff. A review of program records provided data …

Interpreting Public School Administrators' Experience Of The Transformational Leadership Style During An Educator Shortage: A Hermeneutical Phenomenological Study, Jennifer Rose Sweet

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to interpret public school administrators' experiences with transformational leadership during an educator shortage. The research employed a hermeneutical-phenomenological approach, utilizing van Manen’s methodological data analysis procedures to capture the essence of the lived experiences of school administrators. Bass’s transformational leadership theory provided the framework for this study. Previous research has examined multiple factors related to leadership's connection to an educator shortage. This study aimed to explore administrators' lived experiences with the transformational leadership style and its impact on a teacher shortage in public schools. Using purposeful, convenience, and snowball sampling, school administrators were selected …

Examining The Relationship Between Transformational Leadership Behaviors And Faculty Job Satisfaction At Hbcus: An Explanatory Correlational Study, Demissie L. Karorsa, Monica E. Allen

Journal of Research Initiatives

By inspiring followers to pursue and attain exceptional levels of performance, transformational leadership (TL) has been associated with high levels of follower job satisfaction and organizational commitment (Asencio, 2016; Banks et al., 2016; Bass & Riggio, 2006). The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine faculty perceptions of transformational leadership behaviors of their department chairs and their own job satisfaction at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the southeastern United States. The transformational leadership dimensions examined were idealized attributes (IA), idealized behaviors (IB), inspirational motivation (IM), intellectual stimulation (IS), and individualized consideration (IC). Data were collected using …

Simulation Culture And Organizational Readiness In Social Work Education: Examining Faculty Perspectives., Kate Whitney

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

Despite the growing emphasis on simulation-based learning (SBL), faculty perceptions of organizational readiness for this approach in social work education remain understudied. This exploratory mixed-methods study examined faculty readiness across two CSWE-accredited programs using the Simulation Culture Organizational Readiness Scale (SCORS) and qualitative open-ended questions (𝑁=21). Findings revealed modest and uneven readiness across both programs, with full-time faculty reporting significantly lower readiness scores than adjunct and part-time faculty. Qualitative data identified critical needs for foundational dialogue on SBL principles, strategic institutional investment, and targeted faculty development. Participants also expressed concerns regarding the pace of adoption and potential conflicts with the …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Black Women In Undergraduate Stem Core Expansion Pathways, Lizzie L. Evans Martinez Alvarez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The use of social incongruence in the film Hidden Figures, which juxtaposed with STEM education as the most powerful in contrast with Black women as the least powerful, supported the argument for the specific problem of practice to examine the unmet need for socially and ethnically diverse student populations in U.S. STEM higher education and careers. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological research study was to identify and analyze the lived experiences of Black women regarding barriers they perceive in the STEM educational and career decision-making processes, while exploring transformational pathways to STEM academic success. The study specifically analyzed …

Consequences Of Time Poverty Due To Work Intensification: Lived Experiences Of High School Teachers, John Manning, Lisa Reason

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

This qualitative study sought to explore teachers’ lived experiences with work intensification in a public high school. Apple’s teacher work intensification thesis was used as a framework to evaluate how organizational conditions, time poverty, and job demands contribute to increasing complexity in teachers’ work as well as how they mediate their own responses to it. The research explored the lived experiences of 10 public high school teachers as they managed their perceived feelings of time poverty alongside increasing job demands. Data was collected through interviews, reflective journals, and a qualitative survey. Analysis strategies included in vivo coding, horizontalization, triangulation, and …

Examining Alumni Engagement Policies Among R1 Universities: A Comparative Analysis Of Best Practices, Howayda Ackleh

Doctoral Dissertations

This study explores the need to update policies and enhance practices for alumni engagement in higher education institutions. Current alumni strategic plans require evaluation and refinement, while new approaches must be developed to strengthen alumni involvement. By analyzing the challenges institutions face in maintaining alumni connections, this review seeks to identify gaps and establish effective best practices. By examining the questions, how do alumni associations at select public R1 institutions apply Utilization-Focused Evaluation (UFE) principles to assess and improve their alumni engagement strategies, and how does this impact their alignment with institutional goals and objectives? This study aims to evaluate …

2026 January 12 - University Council Agenda And Minutes, University Council, East Tennesee State University

University Council Agendas and Minutes

The University Council met on January 12, 2026, where Provost Kimberly McCorkle opened the session and members approved the previous meeting’s minutes before hearing updates from governance groups and campus units. A mission moment highlighted the Nurse Narratives initiative, a collaborative storytelling project shaping empathy-centered nursing education. Governance reports noted progress on faculty surveys, staff recognition planning, academic chair training, Appalachian Folk Festival preparations, and athletics achievements. Enrollment management updates emphasized reduced drop-risk student counts, improved outreach coordination, increased fall 2026 applications, and opportunities and challenges related to the TN Direct Admissions pilot program. Additional updates addressed FAFSA improvements, the …

Exploring The Leadership Journeys Of Female College Presidents At Health Professions Focused Institutions: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study, Caroline S. Zeind, Bobbie Ann Adair White, Yoon Soo Park, Tewodros Eguale, Anne Thompson

Journal of Research on the College President

National data on the academic presidency reflect a long-standing gender gap with little known about the presidency at health professions focused institutions (HPFIs). This mixed methods study explored the relationships between the academic presidency and institutional characteristics of HPFIs, and the leadership journeys of female presidents at HPFIs. An analysis of institutional and leadership data for 487 HPFIs was conducted using a quantitative approach, followed by interviews of 15 female presidents at HPFIs to understand their perceptions of the barriers, and factors that helped with presidency attainment. The results of 479 HPFIs revealed that only 36.3% of women served as …

Preparing Students For What Comes Next: A Qualitative Study Of District Approaches To Postsecondary And Career Readiness, Amanda C. Pelsor

Dissertations of Practice

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR WHAT COMES NEXT: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF DISTRICT APPROACHES TO POSTSECONDARY AND CAREER READINESS

This qualitative study examines how Illinois school districts support students’ readiness for postsecondary success and career planning and exploration. Despite longstanding state and federal efforts to improve college and career readiness, many students continue to face challenges after high school, including lack of workforce readiness, underpreparedness for postsecondary education, unclear career pathways, and difficulty navigating complex transitions. Using semi-structured interviews, this study explores how districts conceptualize and implement career readiness frameworks, the ways readiness work is embedded within district systems, and the barriers …

Career Readiness Indicators In High School Influenced By Leaders In Alabama, Kevin J. Wieseman

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study investigated how educational leaders conceptualize and influence Career Readiness Indicators (CRI) in Alabama high schools. As Alabama places increasing emphasis on College and Career Readiness (CCR), this research explored how leaders’ lived experiences affect initiatives designed to prepare students for postsecondary achievement. Drawing on Transformational Leadership Theory and Distributed Leadership Theory, the study examined leadership practices associated with work-based learning, soft skills development, academic preparedness, and career-readiness outcomes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with educational leaders from Alabama school systems recognized for exemplary CCR performance. Data were analyzed using a phenomenological approach to identify shared leadership experiences and …

The Impact Of Vulnerability On Building Trust: A Qualitative Study Of Superintendents In Northern California, Jasmin Hasmukhlal Patel

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand and explain how exemplary superintendents in Northern California practice vulnerability to build trust within their organizations, guided by Brené Brown’s framework of vulnerability-based leadership: Authenticity, courage over comfort, curiosity and learning, practicing empathy, and leading with heart. An additional purpose was to examine the challenges these leaders encounter when practicing vulnerability in complex public education contexts. This study addresses a gap in leadership research by providing empirical insight into how vulnerability functions as a trust-building practice at the highest level of K–12 educational leadership.

Methodology: A qualitative phenomenological design was …

Staff Attitudes Toward Ai Adoption At A Private Research University, Ashley C. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses the limited research on university staff attitudes toward artificial intelligence use and adoption. Using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) research framework, the General Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence Scale (GAAIS), and quantitative survey methodology, the study examines the attitudes of higher education staff toward AI, specifically examining whether demographic or professional characteristics are factors. The findings indicate that staff had moderately negative attitudes toward AI while also expressing some concerns. The results suggest that more resources and support for AI are needed for staff to address concerns. It also suggests that construct-level analysis …

The Perceived Leadership Attributes Of Chief Academic Officers, Lowa Mwilambwe

Theses and Dissertations

Using Moss’s Leadership Attributes Inventory (LAI), which contains 37 attributes categorized under 6 core leadership roles (inspire a shared vision and establish standards; foster unity, collaboration, and ownership; exercise power effectively and empower others to act; exert external influence to set the right context, establish an environment conducive to learning; and satisfy the job-related needs of individuals in the organization), and descriptive and inferential statistics, this study examined the perceptions of Chief Academic Officers (CAOs) leadership at four-year public colleges and universities from the perspectives of the CAOs who self-evaluated themselves, and their colleagues (presidents, vice presidents, deans, and other …

The Impact Of Strategic Planning On Teachers' Perceptions Of Their Practice: A Mixed-Methods Study, Vivian Robert

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Strategic planning is a vital endeavor for school districts across New York State. Often, however, significant human and financial capital is invested in these processes without investigating their impact beyond immediate student outcomes. While student success is the ultimate priority, little attention has been paid to the effect strategic planning has on the practitioners charged with implementing it, specifically teachers. This phenomenological mixed-method case study investigates how strategic planning influences teachers’ perceptions of their practice and identifies how districts can better engage educators to ensure the successful realization of district goals. In this study, district leaders participated in semi-structured interviews, …

The Relationship Between Participants In The Certificate Of Educational Technology And Information Literacy (Coetail) Program And Professional Capital, Benjamin J. Sheridan

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

This study aimed to explore how educators involved in the Certificate of Educational Technology and Information Literacy (COETAIL) program perceived the development of their professional capital within an online, cohort-based professional learning community. Based on Hargreaves and Fullan’s (2012) concept of professional capital, which includes human, social, and decisional capital, and guided by social learning theories, the study examined participants’ perceptions of professional capital development, the program features related to that development, and how participation influenced their professional paths. The research focused on international school settings, where educators often rely on networked professional learning because of geographic mobility and limited …

Bridging Vision And Practice: A Case Study Of Educator Perceptions Within The Community School Model, Jessica M. Riedel

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Guided by a qualitative collective case study employing two focus groups and six individual interviews, this dissertation in practice examined educator and community school specialist perceptions of the community school model and sought to understand how those perceptions inform the district’s approach to teaching and school operations. Findings indicated a genuine desire to make the community school model successful for students within the buildings but also emphasized a lack of role clarity and professional development opportunities, misconceptions around the model, and siloing within different programs in the schools. These results highlight the need for more communication within districts and schools …

Values-Based Behavioral Frameworks As Contributors To Organizational Culture In Higher Education: A Literature Review, David J. Park Do

Papers

Colleges and universities almost universally publish statements of organizational values, yet a gap often persists between those stated values and the regularly observed behaviors. This review examines how that gap relates to culture in higher education institutions and specifically explores how translating values into observable behaviors contributes to organizational culture. This literature review used a structured, criteria-guided approach to source identification, selecting sources against three constructs: 1) institutional adoption of values-based behavioral frameworks, 2) organizational culture in higher-education settings, and 3) the perceptions through which organizational members perceive culture. The resulting corpus of 40 sources spans organizational culture scholarship, virtue …

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 …

Narrating Institutional Becoming: Faith, Leadership, And Identity Reconstruction During A College-To-University Transition, Viviene H. Dyer

Dissertations

Problem

The contributions of faith-based higher education institutions to the tertiary landscape in small island developing states are insufficiently addressed in the scholarly literature. Consequently, there is limited understanding of how these institutions navigate organizational transitions and respond to capacity gaps that the public sector is unable to fill within dynamic cultural and regulatory environments. This gap is especially evident for Seventh-day Adventist institutions, whose efforts to preserve mission and identity during periods of institutional change remain underexamined and poorly documented.

Purpose

The purpose of this narrative inquiry study was to examine how university administrators influenced the development and ongoing …

Data Utilization In Facilities’ Performance Management Decision- Making At U.S. Four-Year Public Institutions: A Cross-Sectional Exploratory Study, Tanaporn Supanichrattana

Theses and Dissertations

The growing complexity of higher education finance, aging infrastructure, and rising accountability expectations has intensified demands on facilities organizations to manage institutional assets strategically. As colleges and universities face sustained fiscal constraints and expanding operational pressures, the ability of facilities leaders to use data to inform performance management has become increasingly critical. Despite this importance, limited empirical research has examined how facilities leaders integrate data into decision-making within public higher education contexts.

The quantitative study employed a cross-sectional, exploratory survey design to investigate data utilization practices among facilities leaders at U.S. public four-year institutions. Guided by the Data–Information–Knowledge–Wisdom hierarchy and …

Examining How Engagement Strategies Of Principals Influence Teacher Retention In Urban Title I Schools, Bridgette Allen

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

As the teacher shortage continues to rise, it is critical for educational leaders to focus on teacher retention. Principals play a significant role in teacher retention, teacher engagement, and job satisfaction; therefore, they must implement effective engagement strategies to improve teacher retention. The purpose of this basic qualitative study is to explore how engagement strategies employed by principals at urban Title I schools contribute to teachers’ decisions to remain at these schools. The research question for this study examines teachers’ perspectives on how the engagement strategies used by their school principals influence their decision to remain in an urban Title …

Examining Principals' Perceptions Of Their Preparedness To Lead In Title I Schools, Tiffany Roebuck

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Principals serving in Title I schools face complex instructional, organizational, cultural, and community related demands that require specialized leadership preparation and support.  The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience of principals serving in urban Title I schools regarding their preparedness, supports, challenges, and successes as instructional leaders. The study also examined principals' perceptions of culturally proficient leadership and principal preparation program attributes considered essential for leadership readiness in high-needs school settings. Guided by the Culturally Responsive School Leadership (CRSL) framework, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 principals serving in urban Title I …

Enhancing International School Implementation Capacity: Supporting Contextualized Learning At An International Baccalaureate School In China, Christopher J. Hayden Iv

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

International schools allocate substantial resources to implement progressive curricular innovations; however, the advantages offered by these developments are contingent on their effective execution within classroom settings. This mixed methods action research (MMAR) study examined the implementation of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Global Context (GC) Strategy in the Middle Years Programme (MYP) at an international school in China and asked how the school might strengthen its capacity to enact this and similar innovations. Following a sequential MMAR design, a reconnaissance phase combined a whole-staff survey (n=87) with qualitative interviews to diagnose the individual, organizational, and contextual factors shaping implementation. Analyses identified …

A Return To Relevance: The National Association Of Student Financial Aid Administrators From 2012 To 2017, Saralyn Mckinnon-Crowley, Jacob P. Gross

Journal of Student Financial Aid

This paper delves into the historical narrative of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) from 2012-2017, focusing on its operational evolution, policy advocacy efforts, and the changing landscape of financial aid programs. It discusses key developments within NASFAA, such as the shift from a committee structure to a task force model, to enhance operational efficiency and member engagement. Furthermore, the document discusses NASFAA's strategic initiatives, including NASFAA University (NASFAA U) and the AskRegs Knowledgebase, as well as the pivotal role NASFAA played in the move to the use of prior-prior year for the Free Application for Federal …