2022 O.W.L.S. Graduate Research Forum Recognizes the Outstanding Research of Enixe Castro and Fellow Grad Students
OWLS graduate students present their research to the world via the OWLS Graduate Research Forum. For Spring 2022, 15 students completed a study or practicum and created videos with over 3,200 views!
Based on their evaluations, the Department of OWLS recognizes Enixe Castro for Outstanding Interdisciplinary Research for her study examining why Hispanic high school graduates opt out of attending college (see video summaries/links below signature line). Congratulations to Enixe on this recognition, and to all the students who completed their research!
Why Hispanic High School Graduates Opt Out of Attending College
Enixe Castro
Have you ever wondered the impact Hispanic high school graduates have on themselves and the community when they opt out of attending college? This research video will give you insight on why Hispanic high school graduates opt out of attending college, the benefits they are missing out on, and how they impact society. Follow me as we dive into the life of several Hispanic research participants who have endured discrimination, challenging life circumstances, and limited support forcing them to opt out of attending college.
Black Students Facing Discrimination and Racism in a School System
Kevin Aje
Black students facing discrimination and racism in a school system is nothing new. The adolescent school system should be structured to build young minds while fostering a nurturing and supportive environment, but for a particular segment of the population this is not their school experience. Black students do not feel included nor understood in a system that does not adequately represent them nor prepares them for their everyday situation. This study identified ways to improve the experiences of Black students through the findings of common complaints that relate to discrimination, lack of administrative support, and outdated school curriculum.
Leading Millennials in the Workplace
Jessica Barrientos
Leaders in the workplace are faced with leading multi-generational teams. The current workplace is a melting pot of diverse opinions, values, and traditions. Throughout the pandemic there has been a shift towards better work-life balance and a higher need for interpersonal connections with staff. Understanding how to lead one of the latest and largest generations to join the workforce is of upmost importance to ensure high organizational productivity.
Asian American Pacific Islander Women Mentoring Experiences in Higher Education
LynnAnn Brewer
Mentoring is one way for women to move into leadership positions. However, not much is known about the Asian American Pacific Islander women mentoring experiences Although Asian women are represented in the workforce, very few are in leadership roles, and only 2.5% are in management positions. This was a study conducted to understand the mentoring experiences of Asian American and Pacific Islander women in higher education and add to the knowledge of the group's dynamics that impacts movement into leadership positions.
Funding Inclusive Parks and Recreation Environments
Lauren Clawson
This presentation outlines my practicum experience at The Callen Hugh’s Foundation. The purpose of this practicum was to examine funding opportunities for inclusive playgrounds. Currently, people with a disability are unlikely to engage in physical activity despite the benefits because of limitations (Mulligan & Nichols-Dunsmuir, 2017). Outdoor play embraces diverse mental and physical advantages for a person with a disability and is currently lacking in most of our park environments. During this practicum, my goal was to explore limited funding options to determine the best strategic plan for the foundation in accomplishing the vision to build an all abilities park in the organization’s local community.
Coaching Effectiveness Through the Eyes of Select Baseball Parents
Jose Franco
Travel baseball continues to be a high expense industry where higher levels of team competition can cost thousands of dollars. With so many options in the Central Texas region how can parents differentiate good organizations from bad? Do they go with the $2,000+ per season national organization or look to the affordable local organization? The findings will help provide guidance to future parents in their decision of finding a quality and affordable option that satisfies their needs.
Programs and Resources for Underprivileged Youth and Families
Carisa Garza
Unfortunately, underprivileged children, such as children of color and lower socioeconomic status, are not provided with the same opportunities as those with more privilege. Low-income families can also be deprived of engagement in supportive parenting programs that are related to a child’s well-being due to present barriers. In this presentation, I will discuss my experiences and findings following my completion of a practicum at a nonprofit organization that serves underprivileged communities in Texas.
Divorce Experiences in Men of Color
Manuel Gutierrez
As our culture and population has expanded and advanced in knowledge and communication, divorce rates in America are incredibly high. This exploratory, qualitative study specifically investigated the divorce experiences in men of color. Voices from volunteer divorcees add to the literature on relationship conclusions, addresses the need for a deeper knowledge base in order to apply preventative measures to procure relationship longevity, and provides waypoints for future research and practice moving forward.
Human and Social Services During COVID-19
Richard Gutierrez, Jr.
Two years later, the ongoing COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic continues to grow infection and fatality rates, as well as virus variations. Traditionally, human and social service providers met with clients and families in person. It got worse when human and social service providers could not meet with customers and relied on virtual services like Telehealth. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of COVID-19 on human and social services. Some major themes included: uncertainty, acting promptly, and Telehealth and remote working. Human and social service professionals demonstrated their perseverance and dedication by ensuring that those in need received services during an ongoing crisis.
Women in Leadership in the Workplace
Meagan Kohn
Women lack representation in leadership on a disproportional level, despite efforts towards equality in the workplace. The purpose of my interdisciplinary graduate study was to examine the experiences of women in leadership in the workplace. Research questions focused on pathways, obstacles, and supports. Findings revealed how men in leadership can help women in leadership through mentoring, how dominate leadership norms negatively impact women in leadership, and how women in leadership demonstrate unique capabilities that help them navigate their roles and innovate their companies.
Working From Home During COVID-19
Marissa Moore
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the transition from working in the office to working from home has been a topic of conversation. The discussion has centered on how to continue business transactions and maintain safety by having employees work from home but has not necessarily delved into the impact to workers themselves. The purpose of this study was to examine working from home during COVID 19. Findings included balancing employee and employer needs, creating a structured work from home environment, and addressing training and development needs.
Impact of COVID-19 on the Events and Tourism Industry
Ashley Padalecki
This research video highlights my study that examines the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on the events and tourism industry. With millions of people around the world reliant on the jobs this industry brings, the success is vital for whole economies. Please join me as I break down the challenges, changes, and strategies different event vendors utilized throughout the last two years.
Inequality in Collegiate Athletics: Impact on Student-Athletes
James Sherman
Touchdowns, home runs, and gold medals. Brady, Bonds, and Phelps. We all love watching sports, but hardly hear about what happens beyond the lines. Join me, James Sherman, in my research on collegiate athletes and their experience playing collegiate athletics. This research study will focus on student-athletes of color at the Division I level and how they think their overall experience is going.
Male Service Member Perception of Sexual Assault in the Military
Erin Wyrick
Sexual assault in the military has long been difficult to combat, and current practices to prevent such assault and harassment are just a start. The purpose of this study was to examine male service members' perceptions of sexual assault in the military. Findings included preventive measures, perceptions of women, and issues related to living environments. These findings offer implications for female and male military service members, trainers who develop and facilitate programs to prevent sexual assault in the military, and military law officials involved with the UCMJ (uniform code of military justice).
Role of Leadership in Workforce Diversity and Workplace Inclusion
Aida Zahrooni
Given the projected growth of workforce diversity in the United States, managing a diverse workplace remains a central challenge for many leaders in organizations. Many organizations, front-line leaders, as well as employees are confronted with new challenges in dealing with the high demand for diversity and inclusion initiatives (Fidler et al., 2007). The purpose of this practicum was to examine the role of leadership in workforce diversity and workplace inclusion guided by three themes and customized objectives