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. …

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 …

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, …

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 …

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 …

A Mixed Methodology Study On Effective Products And Services For Consulting Firms, Doc S. Dillard

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study evaluated organizational effectiveness within small- to medium-sized educational technology and technology-adjacent organizations for consulting firms to develop appropriate products and services for clients. This allowed consulting firms to develop innovation in their approaches. More specifically, this research supported consulting firms specializing in educational technology in developing products and services for industry leaders to improve organizational effectiveness. The research employed a mixed methodology consisting of 10 educational technology leaders. Data were collected from survey questions and through evaluating related literature. The literature compiled included organizations across education, technology, and technology-adjacent industries. The research evaluated organizations through McKinsey’s 7S framework. …

An In-Depth Interview Study On Needed Professional Development For Assistant Principals Within One Rural School District In North Carolina, Jeffery N. Webb

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this interview study was to gain better insight and understanding into what professional development is needed for assistant principals to be successful in the principalship. During this study, 17 participants were interviewed across three different groups: central office administrators, principals, and assistant principals within one rural school district. Based on the three different groups interviewed, the data provided that the perception is that assistant principals need more development in budget/finance, K-12 curriculum knowledge, school improvement, evaluations/observations, day-to-day operations, policy/law, curriculum/instruction, and professional development. It was determined that professional development in those areas needed to be continuous throughout …

Exploring Adaptive University President Narratives To Generate Growth And Sustainability, Ryan Charles Weber

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods study explores how university presidents leverage adaptive leadership principles and learning organization frameworks to generate institutional growth and sustainability in higher education. Through analysis of presidential narratives, the research examines the intersection of Heifetz et al.’s (2009) adaptive leadership theory and Senge’s (2006) five disciplines of learning organizations, revealing patterns in leadership communication that drive change. The study analyzed narratives from eight university presidents who demonstrated success through their institutions’ minimum 30% endowment growth over five years. Using thematic analysis and frequency counts, the research identified 198 references to learning organization disciplines, 90 adaptive leadership phases, and 100 …

Leadership Communication And Symbolic Language In Organizational Change: A Study In Higher Education, Christine Fischer

Dissertations

Higher education institutions face growing pressures related to affordability, accessibility, and trust. In this environment, leadership communication, especially symbolic language that frames transformation as mission-aligned, plays a central role in shaping organizational change. This qualitative single-case study examined how leaders at a private Christian liberal arts college used metaphors, narratives, and values-based discourse to communicate an innovative tuition model and how this language influenced stakeholder perceptions, engagement, and resistance. Data included 26 leadership communication documents, a metaphor-based faculty and staff survey, and eight semi-structured interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis and metaphorical analysis were used to interpret symbolic language, meaning-making processes, and …

Sealing The Deal: A Case Study Of A Private, Southeastern, Regional College’S Student Onboarding Practices, Alicia R. Gaston, Kristen Meyer, Tyler Ogden, Jennifer Perkinson, Casey Yocum Michaels

Doctor of Education Capstones

Each year, higher education institutions offer support to new, incoming students through an onboarding process that requires dedication and collaboration across multiple departments. Offering streamlined guidance and clear communication throughout the onboarding process is essential to ensure incoming students understand action steps without becoming overwhelmed with new terminology, processes, and environments. This explanatory case study is set to understand the current communication practices and technology use across onboarding departments at Brightside College – also referred to as Brightside or BC (pseudonym). The research team aimed to understand Brightside's onboarding staff's perspective of current processes and practices. With emphasis on the …

Examining The Practice Of Teacher Leadership Across Nevada: How Is Context Associated With Practice?, Peter Wiens, Kaavonia Hinton, Ami Pritchard

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Teacher leadership (TL) is recognized as vital to creating effective schools with demonstrated benefits to principals, teachers, and students. Teacher leadership is defined in this study as teachers leading from within and beyond the classroom in both formal and informal capacities. TL can take the form of a variety of behaviours such as professional learning, the leading of professional development, collaboration, shared leadership, and equity leadership. While there are commonalities, the practical applications of TL can vary greatly from context to context. Even within specific policy contexts, TL can vary from school to school. This article analyzed the responses of …

Mandatory Grade Retention: A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Principals During The Implementation Of The Alabama Literacy Act, Kiana Billings Coleman

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT For over 40 years, the standards-based reform movement has significantly influenced educational policy in the United States (Shanahan, 2014). Educators across the country are under increasing pressure to improve student achievement as states implement policies that link test scores to accountability measures. Recently, the adoption of mandatory grade retention policies has emerged as a popular intervention for addressing low academic performance. Effective leadership is vital to the success of policy initiatives. However, there is limited research on how school principals experience mandatory retention policies. Understanding how administrators navigate retention policies is essential for identifying effective leadership strategies that facilitate …

A Mixed Method Case Study Of Leadership For Change: Authentic Transformational Leadership In A Local Baptist Church, Hui Sun

Theses and Dissertations

This convergent parallel mixed methods case study explores how a local Baptist church navigated organizational change during and after the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of authentic and transformational leadership. Grounded in organizational leadership and open systems framework of organizational change, the study examined two primary hypotheses: (1) RBC demonstrated an authentic transformational leadership paradigm in its change processes since 2020, and (2) this paradigm significantly and positively influenced perceived leadership effectiveness.

Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with six leaders (three pastors, one minister, one staff leader, and one deacon) and 11 raters (five lay leaders, five congregants, …

Investigating Trauma-Informed Practices Impact On Teacher Well-Being And Burnout, Philip Walter Schonebaum

Dissertations and Theses

Trauma-informed practices are a way to reduce the negative impacts of trauma without retraumatizing trauma victims (SAMHSA, 2014). Using trauma-informed training for staff, this study herein sought out to examine the overall impacts on utilizing trauma-informed care strategies on teacher well-being and burnout. The action research project, relying on qualitative data collection techniques, was an immersive approach to impact change in the educational landscape of a small, rural school district. Findings showed implementing trauma-informed practices in the school district led to a greater job satisfaction, reduced stress, and a sense of camaraderie with the students within the school. This study …

Restorative Leadership: A Generative Exploration With Women School Leaders, Camille Rénée Pauline Tyson Jacobs

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

As schools increasingly adopt restorative practices, a parallel shift in leadership is occurring, challenging traditional leadership models like servant and transformational leadership. While research has largely focused on student outcomes, there is a critical gap in understanding how restorative practices influence school principals’ leadership. Given their central role in sustaining and expanding restorative initiatives, this study aimed to address that gap by developing a definitional framework for restorative leadership, grounded in the experiences of women school leaders in grades 5 to 12. Using sensemaking theory, the research examined how leaders conceptualize and apply restorative values in practice. Key questions included …

Heart-Thinking Leadership: A Transformative Approach To Binary Hierarchies In Waldorf Schools, Chiaki Uchiyama

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study explores heart-thinking leadership as a transformative approach to dismantling elitism, hierarchy, and binary structures in education, leadership, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Grounded in insights from Damásio, Spinoza, Emerson, Hegelian dialectics, and wisdom traditions such as Manichaeism, African spirituality, and Indigenous feminism, it examines how third space thinking fosters inclusivity and dynamic leadership. By integrating intuition, intellect, and relational awareness, heart-thinking leadership moves beyond rigid dualisms—mind and body, self and other, power and subjugation—to cultivate a holistic way of knowing. This perspective critiques conventional DEI models that reinforce binaries of oppressor and oppressed, advocating instead for an …

Barriers Principals Face Integrating Blended Learning In Secondary Schools, Lacey Tremaine Ajibola

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the barriers secondary principals encounter integrating instructional technology as a part of a blended learning model. Existing research investigating the barriers principals face is limited and fractured and is mostly examined from the perspective of teachers. Therefore, this study provided data on the perspective and experiences of principals as technology leaders and their perceived barriers to implementing blended learning models. The researcher aligned the research questions to the International Society for Technology in Education Standard for Educational Leaders as a conceptual framework. Interviews with 11 secondary principals from the same …

Estudio Fenomenológico Sobre La Relación Entre El Liderazgo Transformacional Y La Efectividad De Las Iniciativas De Gestión De Cambio En Las Organizaciones, Greilyn Soto-Perez

Theses and Dissertations

Esta Disertación Aplicada tuvo como propósito explorar la relación entre el liderazgo transformacional y la efectividad de las iniciativas de gestión del cambio en organizaciones de diversos sectores. Este estudio cualitativo se centró en comprender, desde el punto de vista de diferentes lideres transformacionales en distintas áreas e industrias, cómo los líderes y empleados experimentan y perciben el impacto del liderazgo transformacional en la implementación de cambios significativos organizacionales.

Este estudio de naturaleza cualitativa se enmarcó en un enfoque fenomenológico. Mediante entrevistas semiestructuradas en profundidad, se exploraron cuatro dimensiones del liderazgo transformacional: influencia idealizada, motivación inspiradora, estimulación intelectual y consideración …

The Senior International Officer: A Sociological Perspective On The Development Of A Higher Education Profession, Mohammad Mansoor Khan

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Internationalization of higher education institutions in the United States has progressed rapidly since World War II. The pace and specifics of this internationalization vary by institution. However, there are some shared characteristics including, but not limited to, increase in student mobility, both inward and outward, exchange of scholars, cross-border research, and internationalization of the curriculum. This increased the institutional administrative burden and necessitated the centralization of internationalization activities under a single administrative unit and led by an individual capable of providing leadership at their institution in the area of higher education internationalization. This individual is recognized as the Senior International …

Stress And Resilience In Higher Education Administrators: Exploring The Role Of Mindfulness, Michael Baumgardner

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This dissertation explores stressors experienced by higher education administrators (HEAs) and examines the role of mindfulness practices in mitigating stress and fostering resilience and job satisfaction. HEAs manage essential institutional functions yet face intensifying pressures from volatile funding streams, shifting demographics, changing public perceptions, political and cultural challenges, technological disruptions, and pandemic-related change. Despite HEAs central role in sustaining higher education, limited research examines how these professionals experience stress, and even less has considered mindfulness as a potential resource for coping and resilience.

Guided by a qualitative methodological approach, this study draws on semi-structured, thick description interviews with 18 HEAs …

A Survey Study Of Professional Competencies For Resident Directors: Perspectives From Resident Directors And Supervisors, Lauren Doerner

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Resident directors (RDs) play a critical role in the success of residence life programs on college campuses. However, there is limited research on the professional competencies necessary for success in this role. This study explores the relationship between the ACPA and NASPA professional competencies RDs and their supervisors identify as most critical for RD success. In this study, RDs and their supervisors ranked key competencies, assessed RDs' mastery of these competencies, and RDs identified how they acquired them. Using a survey research design, quantitative data were collected from RDs and their supervisors at Research I institutions in the southeastern United …

Navigating Stress In Higher Education Leadership: The Role Of Mindful Meditation For Women Administrators, Christine T. Harper

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Women higher education administrators encounter distinct stressors which can significantly impact wellbeing and lead to burnout. These challenges include implicit bias, difficulty achieving work-life balance, and increasing institutional expectations. This study utilizes a Mixed Methods Action Research (MMAR) framework to assess stress levels, trait mindfulness, coping mechanisms, and the effectiveness of a structured mindfulness-based intervention. While the quantitative analysis revealed only a slight increase in trait mindfulness and no notable reduction in stress levels, the qualitative findings showcased meaningful personal benefits to the participants. They reported heightened awareness of stress triggers, improved emotion regulation, and an ability to apply the …

Path-Goal Leadership Dynamics In Advanced Manufacturing Dual Credit Career And Technical Education (Cte) Classrooms In Connecticut, Kyle R. Pepin

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

This dissertation examined the adaptive instructional leadership practices of instructors teaching dual credit career and technical education (CTE) classes in Connecticut, particularly in advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT). The study drew on survey responses from a broader group of course instructors and a purposeful sample of six instructors and six adult students who participated in semi-structured interviews. All instructors taught dual credit classes in partnership with Connecticut State Community College in hands-on manufacturing, engineering, or similar workshop environments designed to prepare high school aged students for careers and develop practical, job-ready skills in settings that closely replicate industry conditions. This under-researched …

Middle-Level Central Office Leadership In A Turbulent Edu-Political Climate, Bonnie Fineman

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

This study investigates how middle-level central office leaders navigate the challenges of an increasingly turbulent educational-political (edu-political) climate shaped by The Trump Effect—a political phenomenon that emerged during Donald Trump’s 2015 campaign and continued beyond his first presidency. Research has suggested that this effect has contributed to a distressing school environment, creating an educational leadership crisis across the United States. Grounded in the theory of Districts as Institutional Actors (DIA) and systems thinking, this research explores two key questions: 1) How do middle-level central office leaders do their jobs in the current edu-political climate?, and 2) How do middle-level central …

Relationship Between School Climate And Effectiveness, Michele D. Franklin Mrs

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to explore the relationship between school climate and school effectiveness in six rural elementary schools. School effectiveness was defined by state reading, math, and index achievement scores. The districts’ Studer Education Survey and the KSA’s Quality of School Climate and Safety survey assessment data were combined to determine each school’s climate score. The Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework guided the study. The study examined a rural school district’s focus on providing a system of support for reading, math, social emotional learning (SEL), and behavior (SEB) that influenced school climate and ultimately …

Symposium On Leadership Competencies For Peace Leadership: An Overview And Invitation, Whitney Mcintyre Miller

Education Faculty Articles and Research

"This Symposium proposes eight leadership competencies, presented by experts in each area, as examples of ways in which leadership can be aligned with peace in order to bring about sustainable, positive change. This Symposium does not argue for just another list of leadership skills and practices, but rather, illustrates that when leadership competencies are intentionally combined with peace practices, we can engage in the work of peace leadership: leading our communities, organizations, and societies toward peace and equitable justice. Therefore, this Symposium utilizes these competencies as a “jumping off point” to nudge the field of leadership studies to begin to …

Predicting The Organizational Citizenship Behaviors (Ocbs) Of Junior High School Teachers, Alfonso B. Astudillo Iii

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) plays a crucial role in enhancing organizational effectiveness. This study examines the predictors of OCB among junior high school teachers in the local educational context. Utilizing a quantitative approach, stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify situational and dispositional variables that predict OCB. Seventeen predictors, including situational variables (type of school, organizational climate, and organizational justice) and dispositional attributes (sex, job satisfaction, work motivation, and personality traits), were analyzed. The findings reveal that while the initial hypothesis was not fully supported, specific variables significantly predicted OCB. Teacher job satisfaction emerged as a significant predictor of …

Leadership Professional Development On Teacher Self-Efficacy: A Causal-Comparative Study, Yolanda Michelle Gilyard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study is to determine if there is a difference in self-efficacy between teachers who are in the process of receiving leadership professional development, those who have completed leadership professional development, and those who have not received leadership professional development. This study is significant because it aims to determine if self-efficacy is different between teachers who are in the process of receiving leadership professional development, those who have completed leadership professional development, and those who have not received leadership professional development. The school district is a Title 1 school with an 87.9% poverty rate. Due …

The Impact Of Transformational Leadership And Knowledge Sharing On Intention To Use Gamification In Teaching, Truong M. Vu

Dissertations, 2020-current

This paper investigates the impact of transformational leadership and knowledge sharing on university professors' intentions to use gamification in teaching, employing the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a theoretical framework. Gamification, defined as the integration of game-based mechanics to promote learning and engagement, has shown significant potential in enhancing educational experiences but remains underutilized in higher education. This study suggests that knowledge sharing is a critical antecedent influencing the perceived ease of use, usefulness, and adoption of gamification by educators. Using a quantitative methodology, data are collected from 204 university professors in Vietnam, analyzing their perceptions of transformational leadership behaviors, …