Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commons^™

Working Mothers Of Children With Disabilities: Professional And Social Identity Negotiation, Christy D. Boyles

Dissertations

Women who have children with disabilities may struggle with both employment and childcare, and have barriers to re-entering the workforce. One struggle is the role identification and negotiation that occur when one transitions from one role to another. This research sought to answer the following questions: RQ 1. How does professional identity influence the “return to work” decisions for mothers who have children with disabilities? RQ 2. How do working mothers of children with disabilities negotiate their identities as caregivers and professionals? RQ 3. What other emerging factors affect women’s decisions to return to the workforce? A purposeful sample of …

Balancing Our Capacity To Serve: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Black Women Navigating Personal, Professional, And Community Leadership Roles, Shemeka K. Brathwaite

Student Theses

This phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of Black women community leaders as they navigate a balance between their professional, personal, and community leadership roles. The research design uses the theoretical frameworks of Black Feminist Intersectionality and Role Theory, specifically addressing the cultural burdens imposed by the Strong Black Woman archetype, which adds additional role strain. The study began with a questionnaire completed by 54 Black women community leaders, followed by 20 in-depth, semi-structured interviews selected from this pool. The study’s key findings are illustrated in a Black Women’s Sustainable Community Leadership Framework. Black women community leaders exude high self-efficacy, …

Overcoming Adversity With Resilience: A Phenomenological Examination Of African American Women Leaders Facing Microaggressions In Corporate Spaces, Dionne Trenise Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

African American women leaders in Fortune 500 companies experience persistent challenges of subtle yet pervasive systems of discrimination in the form of microaggressions that cause negative impacts to their psychological well-being, workplace performance, and career advancement. These women exhibit incredible resilience that enable them to thrive at work, mitigate mental health challenges, and navigate their careers successfully. However, unlike people who fall into either a racial minority group or a gender minority group, African American women experience compounded effects of microaggressions due to the intersection of their race and gender. As a result of microaggressions, these women experience impacts to …

The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence And Neuro-Linguistic Programming On Candidate Assessment In Talent Acquisition, Amna Fahim

Dissertations

Digitalization in human resource management led to the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) in recruitment practices. However, although AI and NLP were adopted globally, the empirical evidence in emerging countries, especially Pakistan, was scanty. Hence, this study investigated the impacts of individually and jointly implementing AI and NLP on candidate assessment outcomes in the telecommunications industry in Pakistan. According to the literature, this study is grounded in Technological Determinism, Machine Learning Theory, Psycholinguistic Theory, and Cognitive Behaviorism. A quantitative correlational approach was used in this study. To investigate the proposed research questions, descriptive statistics, Pearson …

Disability Employment In Côte D’Ivoire: Human Resources Managers’ Experiences And Challenges, Kinanpy Vanessa Toure

Dissertations

This study examined the critical role of human resource (HR) managers in promoting workforce integration and addressing the persistent barriers faced by people with disabilities (PWDs) in Côte d'Ivoire. Focusing on the perspectives, challenges, and lived experiences of HR managers, the research explored how inclusive workplace practices were developed and implemented within the Ivorian context. Employing a qualitative case study design, the study utilized semi-structured, scenario-based interviews and analyzed allowable public documents, specifically the Ivorian Labor Code, a relevant NGO publication addressing disability inclusion in Côte d’Ivoire, and the publicly available websites of participating organizations. This approach was intended to …

Leadership Without Assimilation: Reimagining Executive Leadership Development To Affirm Black Identity And Leadership Persistence, Nicole Monroe

Dissertations

Executive leadership development programs are often treated as race-neutral pathways to advancement, yet they frequently reflect dominant cultural norms that require leaders from marginalized communities to assimilate in order to succeed. This study examined the question: How can executive leadership development be restructured to affirm Black identity, cultural intelligence, and leadership persistence rather than require assimilation into exclusionary models? This study employs a convergent mixed-methods design, including interviews with 9 Black executive leaders and a document analysis of leadership development programs using the Assimilation Pressure Index. Findings reveal persistent assimilation pressures and identity negotiation within leadership development experiences, and document …

Elevating Voices: Exploring The Impacts And Experiences Of Required Workplace Dei Training, Marika Barto

Dissertations

Mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training is a common element institutional DEI initiatives in their response to dismantling racial inequity in government organizations; yet, the lived experiences of racially marginalized participants remain critically underexamined—particularly in government settings, where the bureaucratic structures implementing these trainings are themselves racialized. This research was conducted during one of the most politically hostile environments for DEI work in recent memory. Federal executive actions in 2025, specifically the “Bondi memo,” directed entities subject to federal antidiscrimination laws to cease DEI practices, creating immediate chilling effects that directly impacted this study and reminded us that the …

Generations At Work: Examining Differences In The Nonprofit Sector, Cory J. Bergeron

Dissertations

This non-experimental quantitative dissertation examined generational differences among non-management employees in the United States nonprofit sector, where multiple generational cohorts work side by side. The problem addressed is that nonprofit leaders’ limited understanding of how distinct generational experiences shape employees’ work-related attitudes and preferences can contribute to conflict, reduced engagement, and costly turnover in already resource-constrained organizations. Grounded in Mannheim’s generational theory and Becker’s human capital theory, the study conceptualized generational cohorts as groups whose shared formative experiences influence what they value in their work context and how those values translate into human capital that affects organizational outcomes.

Using a …

A Phenomenological Study: Examining Organizational Change Initiatives Within The U.S. Army To Influence Racial Climate, Reginald Gerald Dash Ii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research study was aimed at examining organizational change initiatives influencing the racial climate among African American soldiers in the United States (U.S.) Army. African Americans comprise a significant portion of the U.S. Army. However, African Americans’ significant contributions do not readily translate into “equal treatment”, which includes proportional representation at the highest levels of leadership. African Americans in the U.S. Army face career navigation challenges rooted in systemic racial division. The goal of this qualitative phenomenological study was to add African American soldiers’ voices to the existing literature by interviewing African American soldiers with at least five years of …

Too Warm To Lead? How Motherhood And Racioethnicity Shape Perceptions Of Warmth And Competence, Patricia Guerrero

Management Dissertations

Women continue to face workplace bias, including wage disparities (Fry & Aragao, 2025) and barriers to advancement like the glass ceiling (Babic & Hansez, 2021). For mothers these challenges are compounded by stereotypes tied to their maternal status, such as assumptions about reduced commitment and the motherhood penalty (Arena Jr. et al., 2023). Research shows mothers are often viewed as warmer but less competent than non-mothers, which can hinder career progression (Cuddy et al., 2004; Heilman & Okimoto, 2008). Racial and ethnic stereotypes further shape perceptions, with Black women often labeled as “aggressive” and Latinas as “nurturing” (Ghavami & Peplau, …

Why We Stayed, Why We Left: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of Hispanic/Latino Child Welfare Professionals’ Experiences Of Organizational And Safety Culture, Cynthia Franco

Theses and Dissertations

This hermeneutic phenomenological study examines the lived experiences of Hispanic/Latino child welfare professionals who were formerly employed at a large urban public child welfare agency. Despite the growing representation of Hispanic/Latino children and families in child welfare systems and the strong vocational commitment of Hispanic/Latino professionals, this group remains underrepresented in the workforce and experiences notable patterns of early attrition. Grounded in safety science and psychological safety frameworks, this study explores how organizational culture, leadership practices, and identity-related dynamics shape professional meaning-making, well-being, and decisions to remain in or leave the field.

Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews and …

Design Thinking For Corporate Social Responsibility Program Proposal Creation, Michelle "Mindy" D. Danovaro

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study used action research to explore how the use of design thinking engaged employees in the creation of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program proposal in a small- to medium-enterprises (SME) in the Sacramento region of California. The purpose of the study was to assess whether employee participation in a design thinking exercise could improve employee perception of engagement, inclusion, and reciprocity during the CSR program proposal creation. The study was grounded in social exchange theory, stakeholder theory, and design thinking methodologies. The iterative research process followed action research cycles (i.e., plan, act, observe, and reflect) integrated with …

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 …

Politics As Usual: Racial Pay Inequity And The Illusion Of Inclusion In The Rise And Fall Of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Accessibility Executive Orders, Francois C. Melville

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This research examines pressing moral policy questions of our time: who determines when the United States of America has fulfilled its broken promise of equality for all, and what constitutes an appropriate measure of reparative justice. It interrogates why the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Executive Orders (EOs) implemented across presidential administrations, intended to advance social equity, were grounded in conflict and symbolic gestures rather than scientifically evidenced issues such as wage inequality directly linked to upward career mobility. Race conscious policy generates cultural clashes centered on the perception that gains made by Black and Brown Americans come at the …

Exploring Hiring Managers’ Strategies For Recruiting Diverse Educators In A Southeastern State, Keisa K. Davis Ma

Dissertations

This dissertation examined the strategies applied by hiring managers within one state in the southeastern United States to recruit diverse teachers. The purpose of the study was to explore hiring managers’ experiences and knowledge of minority teacher recruitment. The primary research question for this study was: What strategies do hiring managers in the school district under study find most effective in overcoming barriers to recruiting minority educators, and how do they measure their success? Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, and thematic coding was used to arrive at emerging themes, patterns, and perceptions. The findings revealed that while hiring managers …

Patriarchal Logics In Entrepreneurial Ecosystems And Outcomes For Female Entrepreneurs, Alexandria Krause Matlack

Dissertations

This dissertation examines how patriarchal logics shape the efficiency of funding for female entrepreneurs by comparing two U.S. entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) within the same state: Kansas City and St. Louis. Although these EEs are geographically proximate and structurally comparable, St. Louis has nearly twice as many women-led ventures as Kansas City receiving institutional capital. Drawing on 31 semi-structured interviews, the study includes 20 entrepreneurs, 11 from Kansas City (5 women, 6 men) and 9 from St. Louis (4 women, 5 men), of whom are CEOs of startups founded between 2014 and 2022 and recipients of institutional funding (e.g., grants, angel, …

A Just Transition For Female Seafarers : Ensuring Gender Equality In The Sustainable Maritime Industry, Danisa Ama Buakah

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Barriers And Best Practices In Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion (Dei) Initiatives: A Case Study From The United States Aerospace And Defense Industry, Jeremy A. Bailey

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The main objective of this study was to unpack the barriers around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and then provide best practices to improve DEI efforts in the aerospace and defense (A&D) industry. There has been a multitude of research conducted on DEI in the past few years. However, very little research has focused on DEI practices in the A&D industry. This case study focused on one large company in this industry to explore and understand various aspects of DEI initiative implementation. As organizations strive to meet industry and client objectives, as well as address employee needs, two research …

Effects Of Cultural Diversity On Project Performance, Likhith Somalaraju

Harrisburg University Dissertations and Theses

Cultural diversity emerged as a critical factor influencing team dynamics and performance in contemporary project environments. With globalization reshaping the structure of project teams, understanding how cultural diversity affected project outcomes was essential for project managers and organizations. This qualitative study examined the relationship between cultural diversity and project performance within diverse organizational settings. Specifically, the study explored how aspects of cultural diversity such as ethnicity, nationality, language, and values influenced project outcomes measured in terms of schedule adherence, budget compliance, quality standards, and stakeholder satisfaction. The research was grounded in Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory and Social Identity Theory, which …

The Road To The Sideline: Investigating The Impact Of The Rooney Rule On The Recruitment And Advancement Of Black Coaches In The National Football League, Enrique G. Washington

PhD in Organizational Leadership

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the impact of the Rooney Rule on the recruitment and advancement of Black coaches in the National Football League (NFL). Despite its implementation, Black coaches remain significantly underrepresented in top coaching positions, including head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator. Using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with nine Black coaches who worked in the NFL between 2003 and 2024, this study explored how Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) practices and executive recruitment strategies influenced their career advancement based on their lived experiences. Six principal themes emerged: (a) pathways to advancement, (b) visibility …

Exploring A Holistic Conceptualization Of Destructive Leadership: Perspectives From The Lived Experiences Of Latino Law Enforcement Command Staff Officers, Carmelin Rivera

Dissertations

Recently, there has been an increased interest in destructive leadership or what is characterized as the dark side of leadership. There is, in fact, no consensus in the literature about the definition of destructive leadership, and this murkiness has led to two somewhat different approaches to understanding this phenomenon: 1) a leader-centric approach that emphasizes the bad behaviors and traits of so-called toxic leaders and 2) a much broader, holistic approach, often discussed as the toxic triangle (Padilla et al., 2007), that focuses on how destructive leadership is co-created by a toxic system of bad leaders and susceptible followers …

Exploring Contributions Of Partnerships Between Employers And Disability Organizations On Recruitment, Hiring, Training, Retention, And Accommodation Of Individuals With Disabilities In Mississippi, Peter Oluwadare Kalejaiye

Dissertations

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 provides equal employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities (IWDs) by prohibiting discrimination in employment. However, one out of four IWDs face discrimination in employment in the United States (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023). Additionally, despite establishing the Office of Disability Employment Policy and enacting the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to help integrate IWDs into the workforce, IWDs face barriers to equal and equitable employment (NASEM, 2017). Previous studies recommend partnerships between employers and disability organizations (DOs) to provide employment opportunities and benefits for IWDs through recruitment, hiring, training, retention, and …

The Digital Incorporated Worker Narrative: A Mixed Methods Study Of Digital Capital, Work Selection, And Outcomes In The Fourth Industrial Revolution, Tracie King

Dissertations

Digital technology permeates society and industry, making digital-ready workers necessary for firms of all sizes as a firm seeks competitiveness in the market (Bergson-Shilcock et al., 2023; de Ruyter et al., 2018; Gorski et al., 2022; Karaboğa, 2023; Kim et al., 2017; Qureshi Zia, 2019). Firms seeking digital-ready workers face a complex digital divide that creates a worker shortage (Bergson-Shilcock et al., 2023; Karaboğa, 2023; Qureshi Zia, 2019). This study aims to describe workers' work selection, work experience, and outcomes in a complex digital society.

Most digital divide research focuses on the individuals excluded from owning, accessing, and having skills …

The Elephant (And Donkey) In The Room: The Effects Of Political Ideology On Diversity Training Effectiveness, Luke P. Kayga

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In recent years, the prevalence of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) trainings in organizations has grown significantly (Wang et al., 2024). DEI trainings are typically designed with the purpose of educating organizational members on DEI-related content and promoting feelings of inclusion in the workplace (Devine & Ash, 2022). Much like many other types of organizational training efforts, the effectiveness of DEI trainings is contingent on a variety of input factors. One such factor that has been extensively covered in the broader training literature but relatively understudied in DEI training research is trainee characteristics. Since DEI trainings are values-based, ethically prescriptive …

Uncovering New Perspectives On Job Performance In Diverse Work Settings: A Job Demand-Resource Theoretical Approach, Myesha P. Holmes

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The aim of this study was to integrate the agility literature within the theoretical framework of the Job Demand-Resource (JD-R) Theory to examine and validate whether employee agility (job resources) and work overload (job demands) influence the relationship between subjective wellbeing, work engagement, and job performance among remote, hybrid, and onsite workers. Data was collected through a Qualtrics Online panel, utilizing five standardized and validated scales, from a sample of 504 full-time employed respondents across the United States. The data was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The results indicated a significant relationship between employee …

The Lived Experiences Of Millennial Black Women Employed By Predominantly White Organizations: An Interpretative Phenomenological Exploration Of Identity Shifting, Natasha Ross

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

Identity shifting is “the intentional process of altering one’s behavior and language based on feelings of exclusion, expectations, and perceptions from others” (Dickens et al., 2018, p. 5). Previous identity shifting research shows that many have used it as a coping mechanism to escape racial and/or gender discrimination or a tool for success. However, there are negative consequences, such as poor mental health, that questions the necessity of using this. Millennial Black women were used as participants because they would offer unique experiences since they experience being at the intersection of being Black, female, and being born within the same …

The Rise Of Women In Mining - How To Improve Inclusion And Diversity Through Organisational Programs, Ashley Mcgrath

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The inclusion and diversity (I&D) of women has become a priority for organisations due to the positive association with business performance and rising expectations of employees and shareholders for fair outcomes for all genders. Improving the I&D of women is also being driven by the evolving Australian legal framework which has heightened the responsibility of organisations regarding psychological safety and the prevention of sexual harassment and sex-based discrimination. Companies operating in male dominated industries in Western Australia (WA) are under particular pressure due to lagging performance in addressing equity issues at a state level. Existing research correlates the I&D of …

Building Bridges An Inclusive Practices Toolkit To Empower Neurodivergent Adults In The Workplace, Gloria Saldana

Student Theses and Dissertations

In this toolkit, designed for managers of neurodivergent employees, we will dig into the complexities of neurodivergence, specifically of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This toolkit aims to promote inclusivity within the workplace. We need to bridge the gap in improving neurodivergence education by understanding characteristics and communication differences, identifying cues, stigma, and consequences of actions ( e.g., bullying). Prioritizing each person's needs allows neurodivergent individuals and employers to discover natural talents and thrive within a diverse society. Through interactive sessions and practical exercises, managers will learn strategies for clear and concise communication, facilitating smoother collaboration, and initiating changes in the …

Latinas In Law Enforcement: Tokenism, Barriers And Changes Along The Narrow Bridge To Promotion, Saturnino Velazquez

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to better understand and analyze themes and patterns shared among the lived experiences of 12 female Latina Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) in male-dominated police departments in the Midwest (Illinois and Minnesota). The researcher chose to adopt a basic interpretive qualitative research methodology for this study because it provides a flexible and useful research tool, and provided a broader approach to interpreting meaning from rich and detailed data, yet complex, and account of semi-structured interviews that served as a data collection instrument. This study was guided by the theoretical framework of Kanter’s research on …

Examining The Impact Of Workplace Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Programs On Marginalized Groups: A Focus On Lgbtqia Employees, Lisa Garcia Rodriguez

Theses & Dissertations

Research Focus. The research aims to understand the experience of LGBTQIA individuals in the workplace and identify strategies for promoting their inclusion. The study will draw on prior research and best practices for promoting the inclusion of individuals in the workplace to contribute to the development of more inclusive work environments that benefit both employees and organizations. Examining the impact of workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) on marginalized groups, the question to be answered is: What are the impacts of diversity, equity, and inclusion DEI initiatives in the workplace, and how can organizations create more equitable and inclusive environments? …