Educational Leadership Commons^™

A Cross-Sectional Study Of First-Generation College Students' Sense Of Belonging Across Diverse Institutional Contexts, Nirmal Chandra Gope

Doctoral Dissertations

First-generation college students comprise a significant growth demographic in U.S. higher education. Even with lower enrollment rates, more than one-third of U.S. postsecondary school students are first-generation students (Cataldi et al., 2018; Redford & Mulvaney Hoyer, 2017; Ward et al., 2012; Whitley et al., 2018). However, their retention and graduation rates are significantly lower than those of their continuing peers (Choy, 2001; Engle, 2007, 2008; Ishitani, 2006; Longwell-Grice & Longwell-Grice, 2021). Various factors play a significant role in creating this disparity (Longwell-Grice & Longwell-Grice, 2021; Tinto, 1993). Research identifies belonging as a crucial factor influencing student persistence, academic achievement, mental …

Predictors Of Leadership Self-Efficacy: Racial Identity-Related Ideological Values, Racism-Related Stress, And Resilience Among Asian American Educators In K-12 Schools, Chong Lor

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the underrepresentation of Asian American educators in K-12 leadership and the limited leadership pipeline available to them. Specifically, this study examined the extent of the relationships between Asian American racial identity-related ideological values (AARIIV), Asian American racism-related stress (AARRS), resilience, and leadership self-efficacy (LSE) among Asian American educators in K-12 schools.

This study was grounded in three theoretical perspectives—AsianCrit, the Racial Triangulation of Asian Americans, and Social Cognitive Theory—that provided the theoretical rationale for examining the racialization of Asian Americans in relation to leadership. This theoretical foundation guided the development of the …

Classroom To Campus: A Qualitative Case Study Of Exemplary First-Year Seminar Instructors In Student Transitions At A Louisiana University, Brianna J. Doucet

Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined how exemplary first-year seminar (FYS) instructors design and implement pedagogical strategies that support students’ transitions into higher education through the lens of Schlossberg’s (1981) Transition Theory. Conducted at a public university in Louisiana, the study explored how university-identified, award-winning instructors foster academic, social, and emotional adjustment among first-year students, a critical priority amid the impending enrollment cliff and the growing need to retain enrolled students. Using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, findings revealed exemplary instructors design intentional, relational, and reflective learning environments. They view transition as a shared institutional process, model adaptability and lifelong learning, …

Examining Alumni Engagement Policies Among R1 Universities: A Comparative Analysis Of Best Practices, Howayda Ackleh

Doctoral Dissertations

This study explores the need to update policies and enhance practices for alumni engagement in higher education institutions. Current alumni strategic plans require evaluation and refinement, while new approaches must be developed to strengthen alumni involvement. By analyzing the challenges institutions face in maintaining alumni connections, this review seeks to identify gaps and establish effective best practices. By examining the questions, how do alumni associations at select public R1 institutions apply Utilization-Focused Evaluation (UFE) principles to assess and improve their alumni engagement strategies, and how does this impact their alignment with institutional goals and objectives? This study aims to evaluate …

Understanding Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs For Students With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Jade Viator Mcminn

Doctoral Dissertations

Inclusive Postsecondary Education programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are growing rapidly, and this is largely due to the legislative changes of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (Higher Education Opportunity Act, 2008). This dissertation study will examine the current legislation under the Higher Education Opportunity Act (2008), opportunities for federal funding, and postsecondary education programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities as a whole. This review will also cover Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary programs, which are a direct result of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. These approved programs allow eligible students to receive …

Exploring Generation Z Student Satisfaction In Radiography Programs Within A Southern State: Development And Application Of A Survey Instrument For Leadership Use, Brittany Seruntine Smith

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation employed a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design to examine the extent to which Generation Z students in radiography programs within a southern state perceive that their needs and expectations are being fulfilled. Additionally, the study examined how program leaders perceived and plan to utilize the survey and its findings within the cycle of continuous program improvement and accreditation readiness. A Likert-scale survey instrument was constructed by cross-referencing Generation Z’s characteristics, needs, and expectations with JRCERT standards. Items were refined through target population focus groups and validated using Lawshe’s Content Validity Ratio. The validated instrument was then administered to Generation …

Shared Voices: How Pk-16 Leaders Perceive School University Partnership Alignment With Caep Standards, Ann-Marie Hancock

Doctoral Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examined PK–16 leaders’ perspectives regarding the alignment of an educator preparation provider (EPP) with the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Standards 2 (Clinical Partnerships and Practice) and 5 (Quality Assurance System and Continuous Improvement). Data were collected through a researcher-designed survey and semi-structured interviews with principals, district administrators, and university leaders. Survey results provided descriptive insights into stakeholder perceptions, while interviews offered deeper contextual understanding of the strengths and challenges within school–university partnerships. Findings indicated that leaders valued residency programs and recruitment pipelines as key strengths, highlighting the mutual benefits of sustained clinical partnerships. …

For The Good Times: The Influence Of Leaders' Regret On Risk-Taking Behavior In Decision-Making, Ashley Elizabeth Owen

Doctoral Dissertations

Regret is a powerful and often underexplored emotion that significantly shapes leadership decision-making, particularly in high-stakes environments where the consequences of choices have lasting impacts on individuals, organizations, and communities. The researcher utilized qualitative research to explore how various forms of regret, including anticipatory regret, self-blame regret, and existential regret, influence risk-taking behavior and decision-making processes among higher education leaders within the University of Louisiana System. Drawing upon behavioral decision theory, regret theory, prospect theory, and emotional intelligence frameworks, the study aimed to understand how leaders experience, process, and respond to the emotional dynamics of regret within complex organizational settings. …

The Role Of A Lower Elementary Principal In Championing Co-Teaching As A Strategy To Promote Inclusive Education, Lauren Pigue Keen

Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative autoethnographic study explores the role of a lower elementary principal in leading a co-teaching initiative to create a more inclusive educational environment for students with disabilities. Rooted in Lewin’s Change Theory, the study examines how personal experience, professional vision, and intentional leadership contributed to the implementation and expansion of co-teaching practices within an early childhood setting. The research focuses on the principal’s dual role as both a systems-level change agent and an insider experiencing the transformation firsthand. Data were collected through reflective narrative, stakeholder interviews, and document analysis to provide a comprehensive view of the leadership decisions, cultural …

Competencies For Effective Stem Leadership: Essential Knowledge, Skills, Dispositions, And Practices To Inform Stem Education Programs And Support Program Leadership, Melissa Adams Wooley

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify a set of knowledge, skills, dispositions, and practices that are important for STEM leaders to consider as constructs of a STEM theory as they plan and implement a STEM program. The research design included a modified Delphi panel to gain consensus on the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and practices, called competencies, that effective STEM leaders consider when planning and implementing a STEM program. The panel participants were experts in STEM education. Based on the literature, the researcher identified the initial set of competencies. The panel identified ten additional competencies through the Delphi process, …

Virtual And Hybrid Work In Higher Education, Kathryn Elaine Shamburg

Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative case study examines leadership dynamics within hybrid and remote work environments in higher education, focusing on the enrollment management department of a university. As institutions shift toward flexible work models, the study explores how leaders adapt communication, support, and collaboration strategies to maintain effectiveness, employee well-being, and inclusion. Grounded in Siemens’ (2004) connectivism and supported by insights from Prensky (2001) and Shirky (2009), the study uses a theoretical lens that emphasizes technology’s role in learning and organizational interaction. Data was collected through interviews and document analysis, with participants ranging from frontline recruiters to senior administrators. The constant comparative …

Defying Gravity: Representation Matters And The Leadership Experiences Of Black Leaders In The K-12 Educational Atmosphere, Jordan Washington-Smart

Doctoral Dissertations

This study is a qualitative interpretive phenomenological single case study of Black leaders in an urban, public school district in the southern region of the United States. In this school district, demographic disparities existed between the student population and the leadership. This study analyzed the work of Black leaders and better understand how their leadership experiences shape the school environment for faculty, administrators, students, and community stakeholders outside of traditionally numerical accountability measures. The study was guided by a tri-fold theoretical framework that included applied critical leadership, social justice leadership, and culturally responsive leadership. Twelve Black educational leaders were interviewed …

Exploring Ignatian Pedagogy's Role In Shaping Holistic Student Success In The Current Neoliberal Era: A Qualitative Inquiry At Saint Ignatius High School, Rwanda, And Lycée Du Saint-Esprit, Burundi, Olivier Kayitare

Doctoral Dissertations

The growing influence of neoliberalism in education has shifted priorities toward a transactional, utilitarian model that emphasizes technical skills, standardized testing, and market-driven outcomes over holistic development. Education systems increasingly focus on preparing graduates for labor market demands, often sidelining moral, emotional, social, and spiritual formation. This shift creates tension for Jesuit schools, which emphasize a transformational approach to education rooted in ethical leadership, critical thinking, and social responsibility. In countries like Rwanda and Burundi, Jesuit schools face added pressure from state policies and parental expectations shaped by market ideologies. This study examined how Ignatian pedagogy is implemented in this …

The Influence Of Market Pressures On The Discursive Construction Of Dei In Elite Independent Private Schools, Anthony R. Clemons

Doctoral Dissertations

This study examines how elite independent private schools (EIPSs), traditionally associated with privilege, prestige, and exclusivity, articulate their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within a highly competitive market. Using Critical Race Theory and Neoinstitutional Theory, this mixed-methods study employs critical discourse analysis (CDA) and corpus linguistics (CL) to explore underlying forces contributing to the observed disjuncture between the ostensive and performative aspects of EIPSs’ DEI efforts. Using the publicly available diversity statements of 31 Bay Area EIPSs, findings reveal that the DEI discourse among these elite schools often reflects market-oriented institutional logics. EIPSs tend to frame DEI as …

Case Study Of How Effective School Leaders Influence The Contexts Of Formative Evaluations That Strengthen Teacher Efficacy, Patricia Denise Gordon

Doctoral Dissertations

An instrumental case study was implemented to understand how effective school leaders influence the contexts of formative evaluations that strengthen teacher efficacy. The study took place in a rural, public school district ranked as an A school by the State Department of Education in student achievement for the past three years. The principal, two master teachers, and four classroom teachers were interviewed and observed to explore how the context of formative evaluations strengthened teacher efficacy at their school. Findings from this study show that school leaders successfully facilitate teachers’ professional efficacy by personalizing the evaluation process and being goal-oriented, focusing …

Prior Learning Assessment: Understanding The Implementation Of Policy, Joanna Leah Hunter

Doctoral Dissertations

In 2022, the Louisiana Board of Regents (LBOR) introduced a prior learning assessment (PLA) policy across public higher education institutions in Louisiana. This policy was motivated by two key factors: firstly, it aligned with national best practices to support students entering the workforce without traditional credentials, and secondly, it increased LBOR's degree attainment goal by 60% by 2030. This study aimed to explore how higher education leaders navigated the implementation of this PLA policy. Initial findings revealed that all institutions reviewed in the pilot study offered some form of standardized PLA, with only half providing both standardized and non-standardized options. …

From Novitiate To Classroom: A Case Study Of Catholic Teaching Sisters, Melissa Broome Ursin

Doctoral Dissertations

This study was conducted to understand the formation of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, San Francisco and how their communal practices supported and sustained their vocation to educate in Catholic schools. As the number of women religious in the United States decline, their work of Catholic education is being continued by lay teachers who may not have experienced the robust formation of religious in teaching orders. This qualitative case study used archives and oral histories to uncover how Sisters were formed and sustained as Catholic educators through Sacred texts, practices of prayer, and communal life. …

The Aspirations Of The Youth Of South Sudan Towards Tertiary Technical Education, Peace, Development And Civic Engagements, Sunil Orathel

Doctoral Dissertations

South Sudan, the youngest nation in the world, gained independence on July 9, 2011, following many long years of civil war and untold human suffering. After a decade of independence and millions spent from international assistance, neither stability nor development have been secured in the country. Although primary education is improving, tertiary education, particularly tertiary technical education, is considered a neglected sector. This descriptive mixed-method study documents and analyzes 1,461 surveys and 60 interviews, capturing the aspirations of the secondary school youth and stakeholders across the nation of South Sudan towards tertiary technical education, peace, development and civic engagements. Historical …

Mothering In Higher Education - Creating Inclusive Spaces For Mother-Scholar Faculty At Jesuit Universities, Michele Carlene Darchuck

Doctoral Dissertations

The percentage of female faculty members who have achieved tenure is disproportionately represented against their male peers. Even more so, female faculty members who are also mothers, or mother-scholars, represent less than half of tenured female faculty. Current research posits that a lack of female faculty in higher education translates to a lack of female students in the classroom, as well as lack of female students who see themselves in higher education positions. Mother-scholars face additional stressors as compared to their male, and/or non-parent peers that leads to an increased likelihood of mother-scholars not pursuing tenure. While there is significant …

Shattering Ceilings: Women Of Color, Mentorship, And Corporate Oppression, Raminder Kaur Attwal

Doctoral Dissertations

In the Fortune 500 organizations, a robust survey illuminates the diverse experiences of women of color, framed within theoretical frameworks such as Critical Feminist Theory (CFT), Social Capital Theory, and Community Cultural Wealth. Of 141 responses, 102 participants, representing various racial backgrounds, provide insights into corporate landscapes. Their positions range from mid-level to executive roles, showcasing a holistic view of organizational hierarchies. Remarkably, approximately 70.59% engage in formal mentorship programs, highlighting its profound impact on career development.

Assessing the effectiveness of tailored mentorship initiatives, the research emphasizes their transformative power in confronting oppressive corporate norms, drawing from insights provided by …

What Role Do Parents And Acculturation Play In Chinese Female International High School Students’ Mental Health?, You Wu

Doctoral Dissertations

This study examines the challenges and mental health issues faced by Chinese female international students in private Catholic female high schools in the U.S. It explores three main areas: the types of acculturation challenges students face, the impact of these challenges on their mental health, and the role of parental communication in shaping students' and parents' perceptions of acculturation and mental health. Using qualitative methods, the research involved interviews with nine students and five parents from a girls' Catholic high school in California. Data were collected via narrative-inspired Zoom interviews, and analyzed using phenomenological principles, focusing on understanding the lived …

Financial Decision-Making Among Community College Leaders, Misty Dubois Slayter

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to learn about financial decision-making practices of community college chancellors. This study employed an instrumental case study with three embedded cases guided by organizational decision-making theory and distributive leadership perspective. Participants were community college chancellors within the same college system. Primary data for this study included questionnaire responses, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis using constant comparative method. Chancellors deemed budget shortfalls, programs, and self-generated revenue as major decisions. Chancellors in the study used financial reports to make decisions about programs, to design organizational structure and practice, and to construct college budgets—all of which …

Understanding Principal Influence: A Descriptive-Embedded Case Study Of The Attributes Of Path-Goal Style Of Leadership And Its Influence On Principal's Decision-Making In Response To School Performance Scores, Joshua Sims

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate how Path-Goal leadership styles impact the decision-making process of school principals in response to school performance scores. Using purposive sampling, the researcher selected participants from public high schools in the Northwest Southern region for inclusion in a descriptiveembedded case study, specifically focusing on principals and their instructional leaders. The data collection process encompassed various sources, such as field observations, state-released test data, and semi-structured one-on-one interviews with principals and instructional leaders. The theoretical framework underpinning this study was the Path-Goal theory of leadership, which posits four distinct leadership styles: Directive, Supportive, Participative, …

Development And Validation Of An Instrument To Evaluate Social Media Engagement With Millennial Alumni, Megan Robinson Smith

Doctoral Dissertations

Higher education leaders may need assistance creating engaging social media content for alumni. Research questions for the current study included: What values, attitudes, and behavior variables are associated with engaging millennials? What motivations and gratification variables are associated with engaging millennials on social media? How would university leaders use the instrument to assess engagement with millennial alumni via social media through an understanding of millennial values, attitudes, behaviors, motivations, and gratifications variables? Both generation and uses and gratification theories provided the frameworks for developing the instrument. The study used the modified Delphi method to create the instrument. Building the instrument …

Identity Formation And Role Expansion For Nurse Practitioner Residency Preceptors: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis, Angel Chen Kuo

Doctoral Dissertations

Employer-based nurse practitioner residency programs have been implemented to address the significant shortage of primary care providers in the community clinic settings. However, there continues to be a shortage of clinicians who serve as preceptors to nurse practitioner residents and students. Preceptors, also referred to as clinician educators, are essential in the training of learners and their socialization into the profession. Just as there is a shortage of clinicians of diverse backgrounds to reflect the population served in the community, there is also a significant shortage of preceptors of color to train learners from diverse backgrounds. The purpose of this …

Feminist Catholic Organizational Identity: A Phenomenological Study Of Charism In The Lay Educator Of A Notre Dame De Namur Learning Community, Kathleen Barrera Quiazon

Doctoral Dissertations

The Catholic schools of women’s religious congregations in the United States possess a distinctive Catholic identity, owed in great part to the charism of their founders and the feminist worldview that emerged in the sisters’ mission, communal narratives, and ministries. With the decline of women religious across the country, schools and congregations ask questions for the future of that identity in the hands of lay educators. As with many religiously sponsored schools, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and their lay partners in education are engaged in these critical questions for their own learning communities across the country.

This …

Fifty Years Of Underrepresented Student Advocacy At One Jesuit Secondary School, Sonya Cotero Arriola

Doctoral Dissertations

Across the United States Conference, Catholic and Jesuit secondary schools are experiencing tremendous change in their student demographics. Schools of today are being challenged to consider what true inclusion looks like within their community vis-à-vis students whose racial, economic, sexual and gender identities do not fit the traditional Catholic or Jesuit school mold. The racial and social order of the United States is replicated within Catholic and Jesuit schools, even when those same communities claim to promote values of inclusion and opportunity. History offers valuable insights to school communities grappling with these questions.

This qualitative study centers the efforts of …

Towards Charism Identity: A Catholic Identity Case Study Through The Lens Of Laudato Si’, Kristofer Ross Koller

Doctoral Dissertations

This case study evaluates the current relevance of how Catholic identity is conceived as an evaluative tool in accreditation processes. Catholic identity, though a concept inconsistently defined among various international contexts, is nevertheless utilized reductively as criteria for K-12 Catholic school accreditation in the United States, primarily through the framework of the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Schools (NSBECS). Using the example of a secondary school with an explicit Catholic charism-based commitment to environmental sustainability, this dissertation collects qualitative data in an exploratory manner to evidence how schools that may seem insufficiently Catholic according to currently utilized frameworks …

Women In Senior Leadership Roles Career Mobility, Challenges, Success Stories And Need For Future Research, Giselle Flores Martin

Doctoral Dissertations

Women in Senior Leadership Roles Career Mobility, Challenges, Success Stories and Need for Future Research Women represent 57.4% of the US working population (~77M in 2019). From this, 51.8% held positions in managerial or professional roles. Although women represent over half of the working population and have demonstrated success in management and professional roles, they face challenges in attaining senior level leadership roles across multiple fields. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to look at how women respond to these challenges as they navigate their careers and ultimately the tools they used to successfully advance to senior level leadership …

Impact Of Covid-19 On New Teacher Retention And Perceived Supports In A Northern California Public School District, Rebecka Maxkenzie

Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative study examined teachers, schools, and district approaches to new teacher retention with a COVID-19 spin. In the changing world of a global pandemic and shifting teaching modalities, including distance or hybrid learning environments, teachers reflected on their experiences of adaptation. Interviews with teachers in their first three years in the profession were conducted to share the stories of new teachers amid COVID-19. New teachers were recruited through a snowball sampling technique from a large school district in the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California. To answer the research questions, participants were interviewed about the presence or absence …