CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Thursday, April 7
1:30 - 2:20pm
Ocean Ballroom
AABHE Doctoral Students Research Presentation
Doctoral candidates will discuss and present their award winning proposals.
Barcelona Room
Breaking through Barriers: Factors Contributing to Successful Underrepresented Students
Presenter(s): Mary Margaret Hui, University of Arkansas
Much of the existing research on the relationship between student success, race, and income concerns barriers. But what helps these students to succeed? This presentation examines the factors that contribute to successful underrepresented students. By focusing on researched methods of success, scholars, administrators, and faculty members can better help low-income and racial minority students succeed, particularly in the areas of persistence and graduation rates. This presentation is part of a larger study that explores what contributes to low-income student success at a four-year research institution.
Casablanca Room
The Nexus Between Black Doctoral Students' Socialization and STEM Persistence
Presenter(s): LaVar J. Charleston, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Jerlando F. L. Jackson, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Disparities in African American persistence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics may be tied to fewer interactions with faculty members and consequently, poor socialization into STEM fields. Such interactions mediate feelings of isolation and discrimination in “chilly†STEM environments. This study investigates whether increased interactions with STEM faculty in college affected African American STEM PhD persistence towards graduate study. Findings indicate interactions with faculty members help Black students ameliorate the negative stereotype about scientists, and foster students willingness to pursue graduate study in STEM fields.
Melbourne Room
Glass Ceilings or Mirrors? Career Trajectory for Black SA Professionals
Presenter(s): Aaron Hart, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis; Jason L. Meriwether, Indiana University Southeast
Across the vast student affairs workforce, a miniscule 8.4% is African American. As black professionals seek to make gainful advancement in higher education, there are looming perceptions of a glass ceiling. This interactive session will include robust discussion collected from research trends and perspectives among a diverse array of professionals about seeking appropriate mentorship, networking, skill evaluation, & degree advancement to educate new & mid-level black professionals by insuring that the source of career limitation isn’t in fact a mirror.
Tokyo/Vancouver Room
Bridging the Cultural Gulf in Higher Education: Partnership for Inclusion
Presenter(s): Brian Rowland, Prairie View A&M University; Lea Webb, Webb Consulting; Scott Corley, SUNY Broome; Lisa Blitz, Binghamton University
Higher education institutions serve as a nexus for advancing excellence and facilitating complex community social dynamics. In this capacity, leaders within these organizations are tasked with identifying support structures that provide historically marginalized campus constituents with academically enriched experiences, advance professional, and leadership development opportunities. Addressing the “cultural gulf” or institutional barriers for Black faculty, staff, and students and creating inclusive “practices” on college campuses includes recognizing and responding to both geographical and psychological migration for campus constituents of diverse cultural, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Centennial Ballroom Salon D
African-American Women Facing Infertility & Lessons Learned for Work-Life Balance
Presenter(s): Kimberley F. Williams, MBA, MSHR, Doctoral Candidate, Louisiana State University; Petra A. Robinson, PhD, Louisiana State University
African American women represent the largest demographic group in the workforce (NABCH, 2014) and have the highest infertility rates among women (Chandra, Copen, Stephen, 2013). However, scant from the work-life balance and infertility research respectively are the experiences of African American women. This roundtable presentation discusses the preliminary findings from a phenomenological study that explores African American women facing infertility in relation to work-life balance as framed through the critical lens of Intersectionality.
2:30 - 3:20pm
Barcelona Room
Promoting racial equality in education through administration and leadership using critical race theory
Presenter(s): Bridgette Harris, Jackson State University; Corvell Coburn, Jackson State University
Critical Race Theory is the theoretical framework that uncovers “interest convergence†and racism in education in the classroom, achievement tests, and systemic factors in institutions of higher learning. This study examines the historical perspective of the African American struggle for education through slavery, Reconstruction, Civil Rights, and contemporary issues African Americans face in education today. There is also a critical review of key policies enacted to address racial issues in education from the 1960s to present. Implications for those in administrative and leadership roles are provided.
Casablanca Room
Unlocking the Mystery: Interplay of Library Usage and College Completion
Presenter(s): Cantrell Johnson, University of South Carolina
This presentation examines research on autonomous learning, library usage, and college completion to highlight that interplay exists and how this interplay is useful in constructing new paradigms for college success. In reviewing measures that have been tried over several decades, it seems that centering an initiative around library skills has yet to be utilized on a broad scale. Included are recommendations for how campus-wide stakeholders (librarians, faculty and administrators) can work more cohesively to narrow the widening completion gap.
Melbourne Room
Early College Programs Providing Students Access to College and Careers
Presenter(s): Angela Watson, MSEd, Vincennes University; Odelet Nance, PhD, Vincennes University
Affordable access to academic and career & technical education is essential to student success. Unfortunately, high school graduation rates and matriculation rates for students from under-represented groups are disproportionately low, creating a gap in attaining self-sufficiency. Early College programs utilize strong partnerships between institutions of higher learning, K-12 School Corporations, community organizations, and industry to provide the essential components necessary to close that gap. This presentation will provide an overview of various early college models, partnership development, and best practices to foster student success.
Tokyo/Vancouver Room
Faculty Transforming Visions of STEM Careers to Pursing STEM Fields
Presenter(s): Dr. Kimberly Staples, Kansas State University
ABSTRACT: This study investigates the impact of a science learning progression model on secondary education majors ability to introduce visions of STEM careers and help students of diversity develop access to STEM fields. The research demonstrates the efficacy of embedding possibility language during science instruction to mediate students views of STEM fields as their sophistication in science reasoning progresses. Faculty in science education play a significant role developing research agendas to increase diverse populations of students selecting STEM fields in higher education.
Centennial Ballroom Salon D
"We Don't Need a Handout” Just a Powerful Hand
Presenter(s): Dr. Crystal Rae Coel, Murray State University
This session will introduce innovative strategies and programs for increasing the number of Blacks in higher education and post-graduation. African American educators and administrators will be reminded that people need intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. From the Equity Theory and 5-M Model of Leader Effectiveness to the Protection Motivation Theory, understanding how to motivate oneself and others can aid mentorship practices and programs. The success of the Diversity Development Initiative: Faculty Fellowship Program at Murray State University and the partnerships that serve as the catalyst for this program of inclusivity, will be discussed. At the end of the presentation, a forum that fosters open dialogue and the facilitator’s personal experiences within university, government and corporate sectors will be explored.
3:30 - 4:20pm
Barcelona Room
"Can We All Just Get Along?:" Interfaith Movement and HBCUs
Presenter(s): Xandelyn B. Wright, Prairie View A&M University
Religious colloquialisms in conversations are commonplace. The purpose of this case study is to discover the experiences of Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCU) students participating in interfaith dialogues with the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC). Furthermore, interfaith dialogues can intercept normative conversing with information about other religious and non-religious backgrounds to improve students overall social experiences, increase opportunities for critical intellectual exchanges between and among all students (including Christian and non-Christian believers), and also add to the body of knowledge in the academy.
Centennial Ballroom Salon D
Conflict at the Intersection: Race, Gender, and Family Support
Presenter(s): Chela White-Ramsey, Ph.D., Louisiana State University; Petra Robinson, Ph.D., Louisiana State University
Family-supportive supervision can decrease the damaging consequences of work-family conflict by alleviating the stress and poor performance that typically accompanies sustained conflict. But what happens when supervisors fail to provide employees with essential support? Moreover, what happens when this lack of support puts marginalized groups at a considerable disadvantage? In this interactive presentation, we will discuss the results of a study examining how demographic similarity impacts family support, and engage in a frank conversation about implications of the findings for policy and practice.
Thursday, April 7, 3:30 - 4:20pm
Casablanca Room
The Black Male Presidency: Narratives of Transformation, Vision and Change
Presenter(s): Dallas A. Grundy, University of Pennsylvania
George (2003) posits that crucible experiences shape authentic leadership. Burns adds - The potential for real, intended change that addresses the deepest human needs turns crucially on the extent to which humans are able to separate themselves from their confining social roots and growth experiences and thus manage to control their destinies, to act creatively in pursuit of real change (Burns, 2003, p.12). This presentation will explore how transformational life experiences influence the philosophies, skills and styles of Black male presidents across Carnegie classified institutions.
Melbourne Room
Establishing or Reinvigorating your Black Faculty and Staff Council
Presenter(s): David Heard, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis; Latika Webster, IUPUI
This workshop will cover activities and events that will excite your colleagues and make them feel more a part of the campus tapestry. We will discuss opportunities to engage the campus leadership in the needs of Black faculty, staff and students in a manner that address issues of concern in a proactive manner. Additionally we will outline our community outreach and student recruitment efforts to retain, motivate and encourage Black students to excel in their academic and professional endeavors. Lastly, we will highlight positive programming that celebrates the achievements of the Black community in a way that is memorable and culturally relevant.
Tokyo/Vancouver Room
Technological Literacy of the Millennial Generation and the Impact on Retention
Presenter(s): Charlene Stubblefield, Prairie View A&M University; Fred Bonner, Prairie View A&M University
The millennial generation arrives on a college campus with a minimum of three electronic devices, but are they lagging behind in technological literacy. This proposed mixed method study will look at 100 students attending a university to determine if they are technologically literate using a 30 questions survey. This implementation of the survey will take place over a two-year period following first-time freshman as they navigate technology.
Centennial Ballroom AB
4:30 – 6:00pm
California State University President’s Panel
6:00 – 7:00pm
Centennial Ballroom Foyer
Opening Reception with Myesha Chaney
Come out and CELEBRATE with your colleagues and friends!