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Built On Dignity, Backed By Love: A Mixed Methods Study And Curriculum Grounded In Black Caregivers’ Racial Socialization To Cultivate Youth Agency, Heather Watson

Dissertations

This dissertation explores how low-income Black youth and their caregivers experience, interpret, and respond to racial discrimination, with a focus on the development of youths’ dignity as a culturally grounded resilience process. Using a mixed-methods, community-based participatory research (CBPR) design, the study addresses three central aims: (1) to identify the forms of discrimination youth and caregivers encounter and their relationship to racial stress and resilience; (2) to define dignity from the perspectives of youth and caregivers; and (3) to identify caregiver-youth conversations that cultivate dignity and inform the development of the Dignity Development Curriculum (DDC). Data were collected through semi-structured …

Changing Lanes, Crossing Industry Lines From Higher Education To Business Leaders: A Narrative Inquiry To Understanding The Challenges Faced By Residence Life Professionals Who Had To Change Career Paths Due To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Tatianna Geneva Ingram

Dissertations

This narrative inquiry examined how higher education residence life and housing professionals navigated career transitions into business leadership roles following the COVID-19 pandemic. Using human capital theory as a framework, the study explored the transferable skills cultivated in residence life positions and how these skills supported adaptation across industries. Participants’ narratives illuminated motivations for transition, including job market volatility, compensation concerns, and work-life balance, while also highlighting challenges encountered in reskilling and navigating identity shifts outside of higher education. The findings reveal the enduring value of competencies such as leadership, crisis management, diversity and inclusion expertise, and operational strategy in …

University Resilience: Examining The Relationship Of Acute, Externally-Driven Crisis Events To University Enrollment And Financial Stability, Amy Kyhos

Dissertations

This dissertation investigated the phenomenon of a significant, acute, externally-driven crisis event on university resilience at four-year, tuition-driven, public and private higher education institutions in the United States of America. The study primarily considered the resilience indicators of university undergraduate enrollment and financial stability through the crisis context of COVID-19. It is theorized that a perceived lack of reliability, flexibility, and pace to evolve that higher education exhibited during and shortly after COVID-19 is a sustained point of vulnerability to a field under increasing review from a range of stakeholders and points of financial and public pressure. The study contemplated …

In Search Of Resilience: A Case Study Of Leadership In Challenging Times In An International School Setting, Bradylee W. Mcgeough

Dissertations

This study investigated the leadership of a long-serving head of an international school during six periods of significant crisis affecting the school. The study was conducted at a private school in Islamabad, Pakistan, often referred to locally as The American School.

The study paid particular attention to the development of resilience in the leader and in the follower group during and after periods of crisis. Initially designed as a heuristic inquiry, in practice the study emerged more as a collection of oral histories, although heuristic inquiry methods were employed throughout the study. Polkinghorne’s conception of narrative analysis also …

Exploring Practices Leaders Of Teleworkers Use To Foster Employee Engagement: A Phenomenological Approach, Ronald Eric Snipes

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe the leadership practices used to foster employee engagement among teleworkers in the Veterans Health Administration’s Workforce Management and Consulting division and to examine why leaders believe those practices are important to sustaining employee engagement. The study was guided by the job demands–resources (JD-R) model, which proposes that employee engagement is strengthened when job resources buffer job demands and support motivational processes. As telework continues to expand across organizations, understanding how leadership practices influence engagement in remote environments has become increasingly important.

Methodology: A qualitative phenomenological research design was …

The Culturally Intelligent Higher Education Leader: Leadership Strategies Of Exemplary California Community College Mid-Level Student Services Administrators In Creating A Culture Of Inclusiveness, Marisol Alaniz

Dissertations

Purpose: It is the purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed-method study to identify and describe the leadership strategies that exemplary mid-level student services administrators in California Community Colleges use to create an organizational culture of inclusiveness using Kennedy’s (2008) five leadership qualities.

Methodology: For this study, a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was used. The study’s quantitative part was conducted using an online survey instrument delivered to each participant. In the survey, participants were asked whether they were willing to take part in a one-to-one follow-up interview. Once identified, qualitative research was used to conduct interviews with exemplary mid-level student services …

The Impact Of Emotional Intelligence On The Leadership Of Elementary School Principals, Berteil Yousefi

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to determine how the key emotional intelligence (EI) dimensions of self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, and relationship management impact the leadership effectiveness of exemplary elementary school principals in terms of decision making, interpersonal relationships, and overall school climate.Methodology: Thirteen elementary school principals from Stanislaus County, Northern California, with at least 3 years of experience participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were transcribed and analyzed using Moustakas’s (1994) transcendental phenomenological approach, facilitated by NVivo 15 software. Trustworthiness was ensured through member checking, peer debriefing, and interrater reliability (80%).

Findings: Seven major themes emerged. First, self-awareness …

How Exemplary Elementary School Principals Embed The Infinite Mindset Practice To Inspire The Achievement Of Extraordinary Results, Amna Osman

Dissertations

Purpose: This phenomenological study explored how exemplary elementary school principals perceive and embed Sinek’s (2019) infinite mindset framework within their organizations to achieve extraordinary results. A secondary purpose was to examine how perceived organizational supports and barriers influence the development of an infinite mindset among these principals.Methodology: This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of exemplary elementary school principals and their perspectives on implementing the five Infinite Mindset practices in their schools. The study focused on public elementary school principals in Monterey County, California. From 49 principals across six districts, 10 were purposefully selected based on established criteria for exemplary …

The Role Of Department Chairs In Supporting Student Learning Outcomes, Tommy C. Molden Jr

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine high school department chairs’ perceptions of their role in relation to teacher leadership in achieving student learning outcomes.  The study adds significant implications for department chair training in the context of teacher leadership and the achievement of student learning outcomes.  Further, the study extends the literature on the importance of department chairs’ perceptions of their proficiency for adapting to and institutionalizing the role as teacher leader to increase student achievement.  Additionally, the study identified training strategies and resources that enhance department chair competence in teacher leadership for student achievement of learning …

Why They Stay: Exploring Mid-Level Managers’ Experiences During Economic Instability, Cynthia Josefina Bryan

Dissertations

Purpose: This phenomenological study explored mid-level managers’ perceptions of the impact of organizational environments fostering recognition, empowerment practices, and psychological safety on sustaining their organizational commitment when economic instability impeded leadership succession planning, employee upskilling, and staff retention. Additionally, the study identified sustainable, nonfinancial organizational practices that influenced participants’ decisions to remain with their organizations during periods of economic instability.

Methodology: Grounded in Organizational Support Theory and Organizational Commitment Theory, the study included eight mid-level managers representing public, private, nonprofit, and educational organizations. Data were collected through demographic questionnaires, field notes, and semi structured interviews. Data analysis followed Moustakas’s (1994) …

Unleashed: A Phenomenological Study Of Empowerment Leadership Among Elementary School Superintendents, Michelle Marie Ramirez

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this exploratory phenomenological study was to identify and describe the strategies used by exemplary superintendents of elementary school districts in Fresno, Kern, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo counties to create conditions for empowerment for everyone in their organization based on five variables: trust, love, belonging, strategy, and culture.

Methodology: This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of exemplary elementary school district superintendents in Fresno, Kern, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo counties. Purposeful, criterion sampling was used to identify 10 participants who met the study’s criteria. The semistructured, open-ended interview protocol was developed by a thematic research …

Human Resources Professional’S Job Practices In Manufacturing That Impact Employee Job Satisfaction And Retention, Alma Rosa Avalos

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed methods study was to identify and describe employee job practices in the manufacturing industry as perceived by HR professionals that impact employee job satisfaction. The second purpose of this study was to determine which employee job satisfaction practices have the most impact on employee retention as perceived by HR professionals.

Methodology: An explanatory sequential mixed methods design examined the perceptions of 30 purposively selected Los Angeles County HR professionals. Data was collected through an online survey and interviews and analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency tables, and qualitative analysis.

Findings: HR professionals consistently …

When Nigeria Happens To You: Finding Effective Leadership Approaches For Crisis Management And Organizational Resilience Among Nigerian Leaders, Grace Odim

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how Nigerian SME leaders interpret and apply leadership strategies to manage crises and build organizational resilience in volatile environments. The study focused on key dimensions of leadership, including strategic crisis navigation and vulnerability assessment, organizational resilience, contextual leadership, experiential learning and innovation, and organizational sustainability.

Methodology: This study employed a qualitative phenomenological research design to examine the lived experiences of Nigerian SME leaders who had navigated significant organizational crises. Participants were purposefully selected based on their direct experience managing disruptions that affected their businesses. Data were collected through semistructured interviews …

Integrating Military-Acquired Iso Quality Management Principles Into Civilian Employment: A Phenomenological Study Of Post-9/11 Veterans, Paul Encinias

Dissertations

Purpose: This qualitative phenomenological study explored how post-9/11 U.S. military veterans describe their lived experiences of understanding and applying four ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Principles (leadership, engagement of people, process approach, and evidence-based decision making) during the transition to civilian employment. This study further sought to understand how veterans articulated these competencies across employment stages and how those competencies were recognized within civilian organizations.

Methodology: This qualitative phenomenological study used semistructured interviews with 10 post-9/11 U.S. military veterans residing in the United States who had separated from active duty and were engaged in the transition to civilian employment. Participants were …

From Glass Ceilings To Balustrades: The Barriers And Supports In Gender-Balanced Corporate Boards Through The Lens Of Activity Theory, Erica Joy Thompson Dias

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine, through the lens of activity theory (AT), barriers individuals on public company boards of directors experienced in achieving or maintaining gender balance and supports that mitigated those barriers.

Methodology: Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 16 directors representing 13 gender-balanced public company boards. Data were coded using the AT framework, which conceptualizes human activity through interacting components including subject, object, rules, tools, community, and division of labor. In this study, barriers were tensions that obstructed progress toward gender balance, and supports were methods, resources, or actions that mitigated those …

Student Perceptions Of Academic Support Systems: A Sequential Mixed Methods Analysis Of Persistence, James Anderson

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed-methods study was to assess the perceived influence of first-year institutional support services on student retention from the first to the second year at regional public universities in the Northeastern United States.

Methodology: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was used. In the quantitative phase, 437 retained second-year students completed the researcher-designed Retention Support Impact Survey to assess service utilization and perceived effectiveness. In the qualitative phase, 10 students participated in semi-structured interviews to provide deeper contextual insight into the numerical data.

Findings: The data indicated a disparity between service utilization rates and student-reported …

Exploring Exemplary Leadership: A Phenomenological Study Of Campus Presidents, Krysten Stone

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe the strategies used by exemplary campus presidents to build and lead resilient teams in for-profit vocational colleges, grounded in Kirkman and Stoverink’s (2023) team resources framework.

Methodology: This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 10 exemplary campus presidents serving in for-profit vocational colleges throughout California’s Central Valley. Purposeful sampling was used to identify participants who met the study’s criteria. Data were collected through semistructured, open-ended interviews and the analysis of four organizational artifacts including strategic plans, communication workflows, meeting structures, and leadership models. Data were systematically coded …

Elementary General Education Teachers' (Tk–1) Experiences Implementing Inclusive Practices For Students With Disabilities, Emily Ruth Engelson

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative multi-case study was to examine the challenges elementary general education teachers (TK–6) face, including confidence and skills, when working to successfully include students with disabilities in their classrooms. The study also sought to identify the most valuable professional development experiences, the role of grade-level collaboration in building teachers' capacity, and the administrative support and resources that contribute to teachers' success in including students with disabilities.

Methodology: This qualitative multi-case study employed semi-structured interviews with six TK–first grade general education teachers in Orange County, California, each with at least one year of experience including a …

An Explanatory Mixed-Methods Study Identifying And Describing The Perceived Impact Of Five Disruptive Career Skills On Women’S Career Advancement To An Executive Leadership, Roque Ramirez

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this explanatory mixed-methods study was to identify and describe the perceived impact of Johnson and Mohr’s (2019) five disruptive career skills on the career advancement of female chief petty officers with a military background as they progressed into a leadership position.Methodology: This explanatory mixed-methods study examined the experienced of eight female chief petty officers regarding the use of personal disruption strategies. Participants were selected through purposive sampling based on predetermined eligibility criteria and recommendations. Data were collected and analyzed by calculating means scores for quantitative responses and identifying qualitative themes related to the five personal disruption …

Practices Alternative Education Principals Use To Create An Infinite Mindset In Their Schools To Inspire Extraordinary Results, Renee Gates

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe how exemplary alternative education principals perceive the practices of Simon Sinek’s Infinite Mindset Framework are embedded within their organizations to inspire the achievement of extraordinary results. A further purpose of this study was to understand the organizational supports and barriers these exemplary leaders perceive affect the development of an infinite mindset.

Methodology: Interviews were used to explore and describe how exemplary alternative high school principals perceive the five practices of Sinek’s Infinite Mindset are embedded within their organizations. The study is intended to contribute to and extend current …

A Qualitative Case Study Exploring The Processes And Criteria For Presidential Leadership Selection In Three United States Higher Institutions Of Learning, Gabriel Kofi Boahen Nsiah

Dissertations

Background of the Problem

Today, research on U.S. higher education presidential search processes is limited, and existing literature characterizes these searches as reactive postures that are secretive, closed-door practices that have not adapted to the early signals of external seismic change. According to Quincy Martin (2021), “the world has evolved (p. 99).” Therein lies the problem. Quincy Martin insists, “Higher education has entered a period of upheaval, aided by new technologies, but hampered by political and cultural shifts. These are only amplified by modern, warp-speed information-sharing practices. All of this has exacerbated the consequences of scandals that threaten the stability …

Grit And Inclusive Practice: A Phenomenological Study Of General Education Teachers In A Title I Elementary School, Andrea Martinez

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe elementary general education teachers' perceptions of how the core principles of grit, as defined by Duckworth et al. (2007); passion, perseverance, resilience, goal commitment, and growth mindset, influence their ability to implement inclusive practices for students with disabilities in general education classrooms.

Methodology: A qualitative phenomenological design was used to explore the lived experiences of elementary general education teachers. Purposeful sampling was used to identify participants who met the study criteria. Eight elementary general education teachers employed at a Title I public elementary school in Kings County, California, participated …

The Art Of Crisis Leadership By Exemplary Naval Frontline Leaders, Broadus Brooks

Dissertations

Purpose: This qualitative, multiple-case study held significant importance because it aimed to identify and describe the strategies used by exemplary naval frontline leaders to lead in crisis, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study focused on the five critical tasks of strategic crisis leadership (sensemaking, decision making/coordination, meaning making, accounting, and learning), providing a unique insight into the experiences of these leaders during a crisis.Methodology: This qualitative, multiple-case study employed interviews to collect data from exemplary naval frontline leaders to identify and describe their leadership strategies during the unprecedented COVID-19 global health crisis.

Findings: Crisis leadership among U.S. naval frontline …

The Adolescent Development Of Small Business Owners’ Entrepreneurial Mindset, Fern Arredondo

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe how small business owners in Southern California interpret experiences before age 20 that influenced the development of the eight domains of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Entrepreneurial Mindset Index (EMI). This study used a qualitative phenomenological approach to explore how adult small business owners reflect upon and interpret experiences before age 20 that influenced the development of their entrepreneurial mindset. By examining the influence of pre-adulthood on these owners, the study aimed to deepen the understanding of how early experiences shape entrepreneurial mindsets and contribute to long-term entrepreneurial success. …

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 …

Rewriting The Future: Examining The Influence Of Mentoring On Ged Graduates' Pursuit And Performance In Postsecondary Education, Shari Antoinette Crain

Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of GED graduates who were mentored while earning their GED and examined how those mentoring experiences contributed to their academic achievement in community college. Although increasing numbers of adult learners pursue postsecondary education through the GED pathway, many encounter barriers related to academic confidence, institutional navigation, and access to support systems. Limited research has examined how mentoring supports GED graduates during their transition into higher education.

Guided by the College Student Mentoring Scale developed by Nora and Crisp (2009), this study examined mentoring experiences across four domains: psychological and emotional support, degree and …

Math Anxiety, Math Self-Concept And Math Self-Efficacy: A Study Of The Jingle-Jangle Fallacies, Marsha Natasha Durrant-Walker

Dissertations

Problem

The overlap and lack of clear distinction among the constructs of math anxiety, math self-concept, and math self-efficacy presents issues for research and practice. The literature reveals that math anxiety is closely linked to math self-concept (Klee et al., 2022). Additionally, math self-concept and math self-efficacy often overlap and are not easily distinguishable (Kranzler & Pajares, 1997; Pajares & Miller, 1994; Pajares & Urdan, 1996). Each of these constructs has been shown to play a critical role in student math achievement (Timmerman et al., 2016). -- When constructs are not defined or measured distinctly, inconsistencies may emerge in research …

A Ministry Manual For Supporting Pastoral Transitions: Addressing The Emotional And Spiritual Needs Of Clergy And Their Families, John Tucker

Dissertations

Pastoral transitions represent spiritually significant yet often under-supported moments in the life of clergy, congregations, and ministry networks. While leadership change is frequently framed in theological language emphasizing divine calling and institutional continuity, insufficient attention is given to the emotional, relational, and familial dimensions of these transitions. This Doctor of Ministry project examines the spiritual and emotional impact of pastoral transitions within African American church contexts, with particular attention to clergy wellbeing and systems of care.

This study employed a mixed-methods research design integrating quantitative survey data with qualitative semi-structured interviews. Survey instruments were distributed to pastors affiliated with The …

The Effects Of Bilingual Services In Adaptively Leading Shared Parishes, John Patrick Cahill

Dissertations

Shared parishes are churches that have services in more than one language. Pastors struggle with how to lead, unify, and pastorally respond as populations shift and demographics change. One-third of the Catholic parishes in the United States have Mass in more than one language every Sunday. Leaders need to adapt by exploring bilingual services as a way to be more effective and inclusive. This descriptive quantitative study examined three blocks of parishioners at a particular shared parish: (a) those who attend Mass in English, (b) those who attend Mass in Spanish, and (c) those who attend the bilingual Mass. A …

Perception Matters: A Case Study Exploring How Belief Systems Affect Family-School Partnerships And Family Literacy Initiatives In A Title I School, Kwtay Calvin

Dissertations

Family-school partnerships have been shown to have positive effects on students’ overall performance in school. However, in many instances schools have not used partnerships effectively to support literacy learning, particularly for Black families. Teacher bias, negative perceptions, and lack of cultural responsiveness hinder teachers’ effort to build meaningful relationships with Black families to best support family literacy. This qualitative study aimed to examine family-school partnerships through the experiences of school principals, teachers, and Black families to gain insight into the factors that impact collaborative relationships and family literacy support. This study is framed in critical race theory, the theory of …