Education Commons^™

A Narrative Case Study Exploration Of The Impact Of A Youth Development Program On Black Male High School Graduates, Christopher J. Means

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this qualitative narrative case study was to explore how eight recent Black male high school graduates perceived the impact of their participation in a 6-week youth development organization based in a Midwestern U.S. city between 2019 and 2024. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and the review of program documents, including handbooks, logic models, and annual reports. The data were analyzed thematically using both inductive and deductive coding methods guided by the positive youth development framework.

Five key themes emerged: mentorship and professionalism, confidence and public voice, time management and discipline, navigating societal barriers, and visions …

Running The Race Twice As Hard: A Phenomenological Study On The Academic And Athletic Experiences Of Black Female College Student-Athletes At Predominantly White Institutions (Pwi), Jazmin Dunham

Education Doctoral

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of Black female college student-athletes at Division III predominantly White institutions (PWIs). Although Title IX and NCAA reforms expanded access to athletics, Black female student athletes continued to face unique challenges related to race, gender, and representation. These athletes often struggled with social isolation, microaggressions, and a lack of institutional and cultural support, which affected both academic performance and athletic participation. The study applied the theoretical framework of intersectionality to analyze how overlapping identities shaped these women’s experiences and contributed to broader patterns of marginalization in higher education and intercollegiate athletics. …

Weathering Of Black Doulas In Hospitals: Challenges And Opportunities, Denise Elaine Bolds

Education Doctoral

Black maternal health continues to face significant disparities in the United States, highlighting the crucial role of Black Doulas in promoting birth equity (Declercq & Zephyrin, 2020; K. Taylor et al., 2023). This qualitative, phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 10 certified Black Doulas working in hospital settings nationwide. Guided by the weathering hypothesis (Geronimus, 1992, /2023), critical race feminist theory (Wing, 2020), Black feminist theory (Collins, 2000), Sojourner syndrome (Bailey, 2017), and the looking-glass self (Cooley, 1902), the study examined how systemic racism, occupational challenges, and advocacy fatigue intersect to shape their professional experiences.

Using semi-structured interviews, participants …

Balancing Act: Examining The Relationship Between Organizational Culture And Burnout Within Graduate Medical Education Program Coordinators, Michael Conrad

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study examined the lived experience of working as a graduate medical education (GME) program coordinator to determine how organizational culture impacts their burnout. The study was guided by the Job Demand-Resource Theory and the Conservation of Resources theory. When job demands outweigh job resources for an individual for a long period of time, it can result in burnout. Job resources can be used to buffer against demands and promote job growth, engagement, and learning. It is this concept which leads individuals to protect their resources when needed and to strive to develop new resources. Data was collected through …

Bridging The Gap: Enhancing Institutional Support For Adjunct Faculty In Rural Community Colleges, Emily Joleen Mason

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adjunct faculty constitute approximately 70% of the academic workforce in U.S. higher education, yet they often face challenges related to professional isolation, limited institutional support, and insufficient onboarding. This qualitative study explores how institutional connectedness influences adjunct faculty retention at a rural community college in the Midwest. Using a phenomenological approach, the research investigates the lived experiences of adjunct faculty, focusing on onboarding processes, professional development opportunities, and institutional culture. Findings highlight the critical role of structured onboarding, mentorship, and continuous professional development in fostering engagement and retention among adjunct faculty. The study underscores the importance of inclusive institutional practices …

Home Visitors Perceived Barriers To Practicing Self-Care In Personal And Professional Settings, Lexie Yancey

Masters Theses

Home visiting has the potential to support families in increasing their parenting skills, reducing incidents of child maltreatment, increasing school readiness, and improving financial sustainability (HRSA, 2023; Peacock et al., 2013). Retention of home visitors in programming is crucial to retaining families in home visiting (Damashek et al., 2020; Fifolt et al., 2017; Holm-Hansen et al., 2017; Ramakrishnan et al., 2022). While many home visitors struggle with burnout, research has found that self-care strategies are effective for social work students and are even used widely by home visitors (Begic et al., 2019; Siebert, 2008). This nested mixed-methods study examines answers …

Ink (2025)

Ink, 2008-

The student-run features magazine covering the fashion, art, music and culture worlds at VCU and in Richmond. Published annually in print and updated regularly online.

Review: Poetter, Thomas S. Curriculum Fragments: A Currere Journey Through Life Processes., Joseph Wiederhold

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Poetter’s book Curriculum Fragments—and the stories shared within— have changed the way I think about education. Redefined it. Recentered it on what matters most—the human experience, the life processes at the center of Poetter’s book: losing, knowing, forgiving, relating, hoping, growing, loving. Each of Poetter’s fragments—reflective narratives written following the Currere methodology (Pinar)—caused me to reevaluate my practice.

Student Perceptions Of The Impact Of Faculty Race And Gender On Their Sense Of Connectedness, Engagement, And Persistence, Sherrie Y. Fuller

Dissertations

This quantitative study examined how faculty demographic characteristics, specifically race and gender, influence undergraduate students’ perceptions of connectedness, engagement, and persistence at a public Midwestern university. Guided by Tinto’s Model of Student Integration (1975, 1993, 2012), the research explored whether perceived alignment between student and faculty identities contributes to students’ sense of belonging and motivation to persist toward degree completion. Data were collected from 100 undergraduate participants representing diverse racial, gender, and academic backgrounds. Participants completed a researcher-developed survey instrument utilizing a four-point Likert scale to measure connectedness, engagement, and persistence.

University Athletic Subsidies Connections To Various Campus-Wide Outcomes, Daniel Vainner

Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between university athletic subsidies and outcomes for the broader undergraduate student population. The athletic subsidy, referred to as an athletic tax, is defined as institutional and student fees used to support athletics. Although athletics are often viewed as enhancing institutional prestige and recruitment, most universities depend heavily on subsidies to sustain their programs. In 2019, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) institutions spent over $18.8 billion on athletics, with $8.3 billion, or 44 percent, coming from institutional and student sources rather than athletic revenue (NCAA, 2019a). This research explores whether such subsidization predicts measurable differences in …

Supporting The Efficacy Of Admission Counselors When Working With Neurodivergent Students: A Study For An Equitable Review Process, Rose Llanos

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The focus of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of utilizing a universal design learning training module for college admission professionals to help assess student fit during the application review process. The conceptual framework in the research design followed that of the Universal Design of Learning (UDL) framework, which upholds the United Nations Sustainable Developmental Goals (UN-SDG), specifically goal four of quality education and goal 10 of reduced inequalities. The hypothesis for using an equitable training module is that an improved understanding of working with diverse students will lead to more confident admission professionals holistically recommending an admission decision …

Exploring 2d Geometric Shape Classification Using Ai-Driven Feature Tables In Mathematics, Yasemin Gunpinar, Woonhee Sung

Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study explored the effectiveness of an AI-integrated instructional task designed to enhance preservice teachers' understanding of the features and hierarchical relationships of 2D geometric shapes. Originally developed and tested in online K-12 professional development settings, this intervention was adapted for in-person preservice teacher education context in this study. Data were collected from 17 preservice teachers through demographic surveys, pre- and posttests using the Van Hiele geometry framework, hierarchical diagram tasks, feature table creation during the intervention, and postintervention reflections. Findings indicated a statistically significant improvement in the accuracy and complexity of postintervention hierarchical diagrams, along with a descriptively higher …

Improving The Effectiveness Of The Teacher Professional Learning Communities In Secondary Education, Oscar A. Urieta

Education Theses and Dissertations

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice investigated how to enhance the relevance, effectiveness, and teacher ownership of grade-level Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) at a university-affiliated charter school in East Texas. Despite the district’s strong STEM and Project-Based Learning (PBL) emphasis, 60% of high school teachers reported that PLCs felt irrelevant, administratively driven, or misaligned with their daily instructional needs. Using Improvement Science methodologies, including Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, root-cause analysis, a driver diagram, and embedded collaborative structures, this study implemented targeted interventions aimed at shifting teacher perceptions and strengthening PLC practices. Interventions centered on aligning PLC agendas with PBL, implementing structured …

December 2025 Bulldog Alumni & Friends News, Kari Jones, Garrett King

Bulldog Alumni & Friends News

• December 2 Emeriti Honors and Reception

• December 12 Fall Commencement

• January 22 SWOSU Near You: Tulsa

Intercultural Competence Among Emerging South Asian Leaders: Preliminary Results Of The 2025 Ysali Cohort Study, Elizabeth J. Sandell, Malaika Azam

Elementary and Literacy Education Department Publications

In today's connected world, young leaders need more than just technical skills—they must be able to work effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds. This study examines intercultural competence (the ability to interact respectfully and effectively across cultures) among participants in the first Young South Asian Leadership Initiative (YSALI) program. Using the Intercultural Development Inventory and follow-up interviews, investigators considered how well these emerging leaders from seven South Asian countries were prepared to lead in multicultural environments. This article presents a preliminary report, based on early survey returns from 15 of 82 participants. This research will provide important insights into …

Bridging The Gap: Culturally Responsive Bereavement Support In Latino Families, Maria I. Hernandez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Hospice of the Central Coast (HCC), a division of Montage Health, delivers high-quality end-of-life care and bereavement support to adults and families in Monterey and select areas of San Benito County. This capstone project sought to address the disparities by developing and implementing an eight-week bereavement support group curriculum translated and adapted for Spanish-Speaking Latino families. Despite the organization’s longstanding commitment to compassionate and inclusive healthcare, internal data reveal substantial gaps in service for the latino population: of 628 patients served in 2023, only 47 patients were of Hispanic or Latino origin. This discrepancy stems from ingrained barriers such as: …

Advocacy At The Front Door, Tenisha S. Hill

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project examines how integrating social work practices into the jail intake process can strengthen support for clients represented by the Public Defender’s Office. The project focuses on understanding the challenges clients face at the earliest point of contact often marked by trauma, instability, and limited access to services and how a social-work-informed approach can improve outcomes. Through direct observation, interviews with staff, and review of intake procedures, the project identifies key gaps in assessment, communication, and referrals. Findings highlight the need for more holistic intake practices that address clients’ social, mental health, and resource needs alongside their legal …

Engaging Independence, Anthony Cazares

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project was completed in partnership with Gateway Center of Monterey County through the Collaborative Health and Human Services (CHHS) program at California State University, Monterey Bay. Gateway Center is a nonprofit organization that provides services for adults with developmental, cognitive, and physical disabilities. The organization identified a need to improve client engagement and staff support, as existing activities had become outdated and inconsistent. This project implemented an evidence-based, activity-based curriculum aligned with the Community Integration Model, a framework that emphasizes participation, inclusion, and independence for individuals with disabilities. Staff received physical binders and digital resources to guide activity …

Students Insufficient Reading Proficiency, Carmen Bolanos Chavez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Students’ lack of foundational reading proficiency continues to be a significant barrier to academic success, particularly among bilingual and underserved communities. This capstone project was implemented at ProYouth, an expanded learning program serving students in grades K–12 in King City, California, where many families speak primarily Spanish and face limited time to support reading at home. The project aimed to strengthen students’ literacy skills through targeted small group reading interventions and to gather parent input through surveys to better understand student needs and family challenges. Intervention groups met daily during the six-week ProYouth Summer Program and utilized evidence-based strategies focused …

From Stigma To Strength: Exploring Workplace Wellness At Nami Monterey County, Maria G. Zamudio

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Employees in Monterey County face persistent challenges related to poor mental health, driven by high costs of living, limited access to providers, workplace stress, and stigma surrounding help-seeking behaviors. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Monterey County, a grassroots organization committed to education and advocacy, primarily serves caregivers and families of individuals with mental illness but is expanding efforts to address systemic workplace mental health barriers. This capstone project involved designing and piloting workplace-focused interventions, including presentations for a Public Works Department, a customizable training binder, and pre/post-assessment tools. The initiative sought to reduce stigma, increase awareness of resources, …

Fostering Social-Emotional Development And Understanding In A Preschool Environment, Kaya Jensen

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Teaching young children about friendship is crucial for fostering healthy development, building self-esteem, and helping them navigate their world. Friendship aligns with social-emotional development and children’s abilities to create and maintain peer connections. Early friendships are significant for children’s moral development, increasing attention to fairness, sympathy, and helpfulness (Dunn et al., 2000). Children who do not learn how to build friendships risk isolation and miss out on valuable life lessons, such as cooperation, empathy, self-esteem, and social skills that reduce stress and promote well-being. In order to address the issue, I delivered two lessons about friendship to preschool children at …

Grounded & Connected: Enhancing Mental Health Literacy And Resilience Among Transfer College Students, Alyson Morgan

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many college transfer students experience poor mental health, including anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and suicidal ideation. Recent findings show that transfer students face unique stressors related to adjusting to a new campus environment and often struggle to access support services (Center on Transition Innovations, 2023). Although many students recognize the signs of deteriorating mental health in themselves, they may not know how to seek help or use healthy coping strategies. To address this need, I created an 80-minute workshop for transfer students at Modesto Junior College to address the lack of awareness of mental health struggles, the different stressors of …

Enhancing Emotional Regulation Skills In Kindergarteners, Erica C. Ayers

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Kindergarten-aged children often have trouble regulating their emotions because emotional regulation is a complex process to comprehend and manage. The development of emotional regulation is crucial in this developmental stage because it sets the child up for academic, career, and social success in life (Schlesier et al., 2019). Failing to learn successful regulation can have negative effects on mental well-being and social behaviors. Therefore, it is essential to teach kindergarteners emotional regulation. For this purpose, I developed two workshops that promoted self-awareness, cognitive reappraisal, and versatility among kindergarteners (4 to 5 years old) at Brookside Christian Little Learners in San …

Princesses & Unicorns, Children's Health

Book Recommendations

Book recommendation list from the digital library collection focused on the topic of princesses and unicorns.

Complete Volume 42

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

This is the complete Volume 42 of the Journal of the Association for Communication Administration.

Book Review Of Douglass, J.A. (2021). Neo-Nationalism And Universities: Populists, Autocrats, And The Future Of Higher Education., Bhavika Sicka

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Dancing With Logic: The Impact Of Integrating Dance In Teaching Introductory Computer Science Concepts On Student Understanding And Engagement, April Monk

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of dance-integrated pedagogical methods in enhancing the learning experiences of students in an introductory computer science course. In particular, the research aimed to measure the impact of creative movement on student comprehension, engagement, and perceptions of computer science. To guide this investigation, the study explored three research questions: Does integrating dance into lessons impact students’ comprehension of fundamental computer science concepts? How does dance integration affect student perceptions of both dance and computer science? And what elements of dance contribute to differences in comprehension between dance-integrated and traditional lessons? A …

Conceptual Gerrymandering In Sffa And Some Thoughts On How It Enables The Case’S Weaponization, David Simson

Buffalo Law Review

This Article makes two main contributions at the intersection of Constitutional Law and critical analyses of race and racial (in)equality. First, and more narrowly, the Article provides an in-depth analysis and critique of the Supreme Court’s most recent affirmative action decision in Students for Fair Admission v. Harvard (SFFA), specifically with respect to a crucial aspect of the case that has not been addressed in depth in other scholarship on the decision: how key opinions conceptualize “race” in their reasoning. The Article shows how the SFFA majority opinion and a concurring opinion by Justice Gorsuch incorporate multiple, and inconsistent, understandings …

Navigating Upstream: How Medical Educators Strategize The Unfamiliar During Their Transition Into A Leadership Role, Sarah Williams

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

As the medical field grows more complex, the need for medical educator leaders has increased, driving the integration of leadership training into medical education to help manage an increase in administrative challenges. In U.S. medical schools, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) standards require faculty to fill high-ranking leadership roles who must balance academic and administrative duties. Medical educators in these leadership roles must manage the tensions between teaching, research, patient care, and administrative responsibilities. Although leadership programs designed for medical educators exist, as well as faculty development opportunities, educators consistently express a lack of training as they transitioned …

Recruitment And Retention Of Adult Learners In The State Of Louisiana: A Look Into The Adult Learner’S Decision-Making Process As A Consumer, Austin T. Rogers

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

With the looming enrollment cliff and several institutions across the state and country already experiencing decreased enrollment, schools across the country have begun adjusting their current practices to maintain steady enrollment in the future. University administration and admissions offices are having to target new student groups in order to offset the traditional student populations they have historically worked with. However, in order for these new student groups to be successful on campus, these schools must also understand the needs of these new student populations. This narrative study aimed to better understand the experiences of adult learners currently enrolled at University …