Education Commons^™

Start With The Self: Modelling Constructive Self-Statements And Growing With Others, Benedicto B. Llave

The Vermont Connection

I explore in this paper the importance of starting with the self

to model constructive self-statements and create both individual

and collective healing. My intended audience within this paper

is student affairs professionals of color who exist in predominantly

white institutions (PWIs) of higher education. I ground this paper

in my lived experiences as a queer and 1st generation student

affairs graduate student of color at a PWI. Within my writing, I

detail practices that help me manifest constructive self-statements,

to share with other student affairs professionals of color to practice

healing self-statements for themselves. Lastly, I conclude with

the …

The Space They Take: Evaluating Historically White Fraternities Through Critical Race Theory, Fonda M. Heenehan

The Vermont Connection

Fraternities and sororities are not often thought of as the starting points for social justice education, especially not historically White fraternities and sororities. In this paper, I outline the missions and values of a select group of historically White fraternities to better understand the foundation from which they are starting their organization. I give an overview of Critical Race Theory (CRT) that gives context for how critical race theory can work in higher education. I conclude with recommendations for reworking historically White fraternities with a CRT lens; recommendations are written for national organizations and students, and then for professional staff …

“Raining” In Your Emotions As A Student Affairs Professional, Chantel J. Vereen

The Vermont Connection

As younger generations of student affairs professionals become

more involved in the field and aware of their mental health

identity, there appears to be a disconnect between young professionals

and those who are older and keep the state of their mental

health hidden. The author questions whether young professionals’

openness about their mental health identity lines up with the

institutional/general professional expectations for dealing with

emotional trauma in their field. In this narrative, I discuss my

understanding of how student affairs professionals encounter

tragedy while holding their own mental health wellness. I will

further delve into how professionals can feel …

Power Within. I'M New To Putting Me First, Dr. Michael R. Williams

The Vermont Connection

I’m kinda in this new space where my space is my space and I don’t care about nobody but me, only me (Samoht, 2019,0:56).

In a field that exists at the exigency of civil policymakers, tranquil institutional borders, and the revolving demand for connected- ness, I’m new to putting me first. No one is below me, but I understand the need for integrated clarity—valuing the basic needs of my existence in the workplace. In this article, I outline how social media, Hip-Hop, and non-violence communication strategies enabled me to protect my space and reduce burnout as a scholar-practitioner.

Mic Check? Mic Check! Amplifying Our Voices, Kirsty Nicole Bocado

The Vermont Connection

Content Warning: discrimination, suicidal ideation, violence

When I write about mental illness, I use the terms: disability, identity, and relationship. However, no word captures what mental illness means to me. Mental illness is somehow both a part of me and a separate, intangible entity. Every day is an exhausting struggle to live with and understand it, and during my first year of graduate school, I experienced covert ableism. This harm caused a long and tedious recovery process on top of ongoing unlearning and healing. Through recovery, I adopted the practice of “embracing the whole” of emotions, feelings, symptoms, and triggers. …

From Disconnection To Sentience: Creating Space For Practitioners Who Experience Student Death, Kevin L. Wright

The Vermont Connection

Student crises are a common issue within higher education. When a student comes to a college campus, it is the duty and responsibility of student affairs professionals to empower them and contribute to their holistic success. Unfortunately, some students fall through the cracks and the result can conclude with a student transferring to another institution, failing their classes, dropping out of college, or in a worst-case scenario, death. Working in higher education requires hard work and heart work. There is an emotional investment in the work that is produced by scholar-practitioners. When unfortunate situations occur that result in a student’s …

The Difference Between Fixing, Helping, And Serving In Higher Education And Student Affairs, Bianca Natalie Ramos

The Vermont Connection

Although student affairs professionals in this field strive towards serving students, it is common for them to fix or help students by default. In this commentary, I examine how disconnection with students can manifest in fixing and helping, while serving can embrace students’ wholeness and strengthen interconnectedness. Additionally, I explore the difference between fixing, helping, and serving in higher education and student affairs through the critical lens of Rachel Naomi Remen (1999) and my lived experiences as an emerging student affairs professional. Student affairs professionals must understand the difference between fixing, helping, and serving to acknowledge how each of these …

Developing Community Through Energy: The Impact Of Student Extracurricular Collaboration, Tiyana L. Dorsey

The Vermont Connection

Students collaborate in order to educate one another and to develop community. Students often use their own personal experiences for collaborative events in order to appeal to their fellow classmates' empathy to inspire change. Discussions centered on objective systems of oppression can be less effective than subjective experiences and require more student affairs professional assistance to create a fruitful experience. I examine two student events, Happy in a Hijab (HH) and Real Talks: The Race Thing (RTRT) to demonstrate how the discussion's subject relates to its effectiveness. I review the timeline of the events, what type of energy, and how …

Connecting Rural Students To Higher Education, Joel Ontiveros

The Vermont Connection

Rural students in the United States have a difficult time envisioning themselves at a college or university. K-12 education and culture in rural communities play a pivotal role in developing rural students’ perceptions of higher education. Additionally, guidance from college counselors, parents, and admission officers’ impacts rural students’ confidence in college attainment. These students are less likely to pursue college due to distance from higher education institutions and feeling a lack of connection. If rural students are eventually recruited, admitted, and enrolled into higher education, they must navigate obstacles in academic and student life differently from their peers. In this …

Building Resilience Through Culturally Grounded Practices In Clinical Psychology And Higher Education, Catarina Campbell, Phyu Pannu Khin

The Vermont Connection

There is no “one size fits all” approach when it comes to the process of healing, particularly for individuals who are continuously affected by the many barriers and impacts of systemic oppres- sion. This reality demands the sustained development of a praxis rooted in trauma-informed and culturally grounded care so that we may better serve our most-impacted communities (such as Black, Indigenous and People of Color [BIPOC], disability, queer, and survivor communities). As practitioners in the fields of Clinical Psychology and Higher Education, we engage in cross-disciplinary analysis so that we may amplify and share our tools for collective healing. …

Both/And: Self-Authoring A Feminist Christian Identity, Molly M. Williams

The Vermont Connection

This article is my attempt to make sense of the conflicting, confusing, tumultuous journey of making peace with my religion and my commitment to social justice, particularly feminism. I frame my journey using Baxter Magolda’s (2001) model of self-authorship, connecting the development of my religious and gender identities to the learning, questioning, and eventual personalization of external messages. I weave Baxter Magolda’s model, my narrative, and existing scholarship together to present a framework by which self-authorship can be applied to understand the needs of a young woman experiencing spiritual struggle within Christianity. I then consider the limitations of such a …

Are Asian Americans Poc? Examining Impact Of Higher Education Identity-Based Policies And Practices, Janelle Raymundo

The Vermont Connection

Asian Americans may not be considered “people of color” (POC) in higher education because of stereotypes of Asian Americans such as the model minority myth. White supremacy creates a racial hierarchy that creates a misperception that Asian Americans are not marginalized compared to other POC in order to cause strife among all racial minority groups. In higher education, this racial hierarchy manifests through exclusionary practices in diversity programming, recruitment, and admissions that can lead to the disconnection of Asian Americans from the rest of the POC community. Issues regarding affirmative action and the recent Harvard lawsuit are salient examples that …

An Act Of Courage: Providing Space For African American Graduate Students To Express Their Feelings Of Disconnectedness, Dr Frederick V. Engram Jr

The Vermont Connection

The purpose of this article is to discuss the lived experiences of African American graduate students (master’s level) enrolled at a predominantly white institution (PWI). I explore the experiences of graduate students lacking connection to their institution. I will also explore how institutional and systemic racism impact creating a space for African American graduate students to persist. I examine how persistence allows for these students to complete their degrees and feel a sense of connectedness to the institution. I will use the television (TV) series A Different World and The Quad to draw comparison and contrast to African American students’ …

The Transformative Power Of Embracing The Whole, Brian Arao

The Vermont Connection

No abstract provided.

Lessons Learned And Unlearned On The Journey Towards Embracing My Full Self, Rosemary J. Perez

The Vermont Connection

No abstract provided.

Executive Board Editors' Note, Brie L. Hornig, Laura M. Aguilera

The Vermont Connection

No abstract provided.

Teacher Roles In Personalized Learning Environments., Penny Bishop, John Matthew Downes, Steven Netcoh, Katy Farber, Jessica Demink-Carthew, Tricia Brown, Rachel Mark

Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education Publications

As school districts, major cities, and entire states in the United States adopt personalized learning as a reform strategy focused on the co-construction of learning opportunities between teachers and students, educators face shifting roles. This study examined the roles of teachers in personalized learning environments within a policy context of statewide legislation of personalized learning plans, flexible educational pathways, and proficiency-based assessment. The study used data from interviews with a purposefully selected group of 20 elementary and middle school teachers from 11 schools. Findings revealed teachers’ perceptions of their roles as (a) empowerers, (b) scouts, ( …

More Than A Scholarship: College And Career Outcomes Of Mitchell Institute Promise Scholars, Loren Bowley Dow

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

The transition into and out of higher education is challenging for first-generation college students from limited income backgrounds. Though educational attainment gaps between low- and high-income students exist, students from low-income households can and do earn college degrees with access to appropriate resources. Increasing socioeconomic diversity in higher education is necessary to address societal needs and to reduce educational and income inequality. The purpose of this study is to examine how economic, social, and cultural capital influences the transition of low-income, first-generation students into college and into the workforce. Through the stories of nine “at-promise” students who received a Mitchell …

As The World Interns: The Impact Of Identity And Social, Economic, And Cultural Capital On College Student Internship Engagement, Amanda Chase

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Internships have become a critical credential for employment, and college students with internship experience reap significant gains compared to their non-interning peers. Students who have engaged in internships are more likely to find work post-graduation, earn higher starting salaries, have better retention and engagement while still in college, and are more engaged in their workplaces many years after their internship experience has concluded. Companies who hire interns benefit from a steady pipeline of new talent, cost-savings in the hiring process, and employees who stay longer and are more engaged. Despite the significant advantages of internships, limited information exists about the …

The Performing Arts: An Equalizer In Education For All Students, A Teaching Artist’S Perspective, Annalisa Ledson

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

This thesis explores the topic of performing arts integration in public education from the perspective of a teaching artist. The writing is comprised of a series of personal narratives woven together with scholarly references addressing education policy, applied behavior analysis, inequities in exclusionary practices and Autism Spectrum Disorder research. The intention is to draw awareness to the accessible role of teaching artists in public schools, the benefits of performing arts integration in education, and potential education policy shifts that could allow for students to learn empathy, vulnerability and sense of belonging. These narratives are used to support my position that …

The Fear Of Failure As An Athlete And An International Student: The Search For Meaning Making Outside My Comfort Zone, Loftur Páll Eiriksson

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

When I was young, I always looked at the world with frightened eyes. Growing up I was so afraid of dying I placed myself inside a bubble. The comfort zone I created around my parents and our family home was a place my mom never imagined I could leave. I never imagined I would leave. Here, shielded from my perceived dangers, I felt happy and safe.

Using the method of Scholarly Person Narrative, I will tell the story of my development and growth into a stronger individual—mentally and physically. I will examine my personal history and explain how I found …

Restorative Supervision: Experiences Of Mid And Senior-Level Professionals In Using Restorative Practices As Supervisors In Residential Life, Brandin Howard

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Student affairs professionals often enter their first supervisory positions with little to no training on how to effectively supervise others (Calhoun & Nasser, 2012; Shupp & Arminio, 2012). As professionals advance to mid- and senior-level positions, they often inherit direct and indirect supervisory responsibilities over multiple levels of staff of which they must attend to the performance, development, and morale. How student affairs professionals supervise and build supervisory relationships is essential to the success of departments and can significantly impact the development, morale, and retention of student affairs professionals (Bolman & Deal, 2013; Davis & Cooper, 2017; Winston & Creamer, …

Recalibrating Our Moral Compass: How America's Narrowing Value System Is Erasing Lgbtq+ People In Schools, Andrew Levalley

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

This thesis bridges the effects of society—meaning politics, policies, norms, and values—and school on LGBTQ+ students. Paramount educational philosophers, namely Dewey, Freire, Berliner, and Illich, understood that schools are a reflection of the communities they serve. I apply this common philosophy to the LGBTQ+ community to uncover the systems of inequalities that have negative effects on LGBTQ+ youth in order to promote better systems that include both LGBTQ+ youth and the larger LGBTQ+ community. To illustrate the effects of society and school on the LGBTQ+ community and youth, I use traditional peer reviewed researched data, current events that showcase America’s …

Becoming Giants Themselves: Advocating For Greater Inclusion Of Students' Scholarly Ideas And Experiences In Academia, Richard Parlato

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Introduction and Purpose

Institutions of higher learning have been a bulwark against regression for centuries and have safeguarded the knowledge of our past so that we may learn from it, and are not doomed to repeat it. These remarkable establishments at once serve to broaden our scope of worldly perception, as well as specializing us so that we may find our particular niches in an ever complexifying society.

Attending a college or university has often become expected. An undergraduate degree is increasingly being seen as an essential ingredient in the mixture needed for success. This is due to many factors. …

Resilience Amidst Adversity: The Sine Qua Non Principle For Meaningful And Effective Leadership In Education, Jennifer Jang Helgesen

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Have you ever encountered difficult moments that trigger you? Do you find it difficult to monitor your internal dialogue after a setback? Do you struggle to find meaning and purpose amidst all the hardship? As leaders in higher education, we must prioritize others, often giving ourselves away in the process only to find there is nothing left within. We might feel empty, beaten down, and exhausted as others need us to repeatedly and reliably show up as competent leaders. I believe the art of cultivating resilience is the antidote for us as leaders to be meaning-filled and effective at work …

Exploring Intersectional Typologies Of (Dis)Advantage In United States Medical School Applicants, Alison Howe

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Increasing diversity in the medical workforce is necessary to address public health needs and reduce health disparities, particularly in low-income and minority communities. The populations that experience these inequalities are the same populations that remain underrepresented in medicine. Research has demonstrated that social-concordance in the physician-patient dyad is associated with better patient outcomes and that students from underserved communities are more likely to return to practice in underserved areas. Despite academic medicine’s continued commitment to admitting and training diverse individuals to address health disparities and increase cultural competency in medical students, a three-decade trend of the majority of medical students …

Measuring The Implementation Fidelty Of Usa Hockey’S American Development Model, Leon Lifschutz

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Critics of youth sports in the United States have lamented a system that creates issues of access and could be detrimental to the physical and mental health of its young participants. In response to these concerns, USA Hockey, using Long Term Athlete Development Theory (LTAD) as a key theoretical framework, created the American Development Model (ADM) to improve the delivery of youth hockey in the US. While USA Hockey has invested greatly in bringing ADM to scale across its constituents, it is not known to what extent the model is being implemented in its member organizations. Implementation fidelity of a …

Being Myselves To Belonging Together, Jill Kristen Pardini

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation utilizes an autoethnographic methodology to explore experiences and memories from my own life, while applying a critical cultural and multidisciplinary lens to tell a story about how (un)learning is intertwined with living. By creating a story combining autobiographical elements, science fiction, and cultural critique, this work both draws the reader into reimagining what is possible (Dixon-Romån, 2017), while encouraging the reader to step outside of the conventional modes of academic learning, just as I did in writing it (Sousanis, 2015). This autoethnography includes five encounters inspired by Styres (2017) framework for centering indigeneity in learning (Adams & Jones, …

The Challenges Of Inclusive Education Policy Implementation In Ghana: Stakeholders’ Perspectives, Sefakor Grateful-Miranda Ama Komabu-Pomeyie

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

ABSTRACT

People with disabilities (PWDs) from countries around the world, including Ghana, deserve the right to education, but are often deprived of it. Statistics from the World Report on Disability in 2011 estimate that literacy rates for PWDs may be as low as 1%. The World Bank Report also reports that more than one billion people may experience some form of disability. Individuals with disabilities typically have worse socioeconomic outcomes than those without disabilities. They often have poorer health, lower levels of employment and earnings, and higher poverty rates. In developing countries, the prevalence of disabilities and its impacts on …

College Coaches’ Experiences, Knowledge And Attitudes To Support Student-Athlete Mental Health, Cathy Rahill

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to develop a better understanding of college coaches’ experiences with student-athlete mental health concerns, knowledge to address these concerns, and dispositions and attitudes toward student-athlete mental health. Although student-athlete mental health has been the subject of previous research, this is the first study to ask college coaches their perspectives on the topic. Data for the study were collected using a Web-based survey with a sample of college athletic coaches who coach male and female student athletes at Division I athletic programs in the Northeastern United States. The study’s findings confirm coaches’ concern and care …