Browsing by Subject "Diversity"
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Item Adaptive Power Control for Single and Multiuser Opportunistic Systems(2010-07-14) Nam, Sung SikIn this dissertation, adaptive power control for single and multiuser opportunistic systems is investigated. First, a new adaptive power-controlled diversity combining scheme for single user systems is proposed, upon which is extended to the multiusers case. In the multiuser case, we first propose two new threshold based parallel multiuser scheduling schemes without power control. The first scheme is named on-off based scheduling (OOBS) scheme and the second scheme is named switched based scheduling (SBS) scheme. We then propose and study the performance of thresholdbased power allocation algorithms for the SBS scheme. Finally, we introduce a unified analytical framework to determine the joint statistics of partial sums of ordered RVs with i.i.d. and then the impact of interference on the performance of parallel multiuser scheduling is investigated based on our unified analytical framework.Item African American females in senior-level executive roles navigating predominately white institutions : experiences, challenges and strategies for success(2013-05) Smith, Stella Luciana; Reddick, Richard, 1972-The purpose of this study was to determine the experiences, challenges and strategies for success of African American female senior-level executives at predominately white institutions (PWIs). This qualitative study used a phenomenological perspective to address the research questions, as phenomenology was uniquely suited to capture participants lived experiences (Guido, Chávez, & Lincoln, 2010; Perl & Noldon, 2000). The conceptual framework for the study was based on the theoretical concepts of black feminist theory, biculturalism and intersectionality. The combination of these theories was uniquely appropriate for researching the lived experiences of African American women (Barrett, Cervero, & Johnson-Bailey, 2003; Collins, 2000; Du Bois & Edwards, 2007). Black feminist theory addressed the lived experiences of African American women (Collins, 2000); intersectionality highlighted the oppression of African American women (Collins, 2000) and biculturalism explained how African American women adapt to be successful (Barrett, et al., 2003). The findings for this study of African American female senior-level executives at predominately white institutions include: regarding experiences (1) relationships and connection were essential; (2) strategic and political savvy were vital; (3) one must have an awareness of your perception; (4) higher education was an isolating place; (5) racism and sexism were still prevalent; and (6) work/life balance was a myth; regarding identities (7) creation of a professional identity as the primary identity at PWI; (8) race and gender as prominent identities; and (9) personal persona purposely protected from PWI; and regarding strategies to cope with challenges and celebrate successes (10) know yourself and focus on your goals; (11) identify something to ground you outside of the PWIs; (12) invest in your success through academic and professional preparation; and (13) advance to uplift others.Item Colorblind TV : primetime politics of race in television casting(2010-08) Warner, Kristen Jamaya; Staiger, Janet; Kackman, Michael; Smith-Shomade, Beretta E.; Fuller, Jennifer; Paredez, DeborahColorblind TV: Primetime Politics of Race in Television Casting posits that in our current racially colorblind society, oftentimes actors of color are cast to prove that multiculturalism is important. However, the characters often have little cultural specificity and are only different in terms of skin tone. While this type of sameness on the surface may appear to offer a sense of racial parity, it actually encourages the opposite. Colorblindness works to make race immutable and objective, which inevitably disallows difference and instead outputs “whiteness” as the normative standard. Through a series of interviews with casting directors and actors guild diversity representatives as well as an ethnographic account of an actual casting audition, the dissertation argues that for the media industry, colorblindness is both a way of avoiding the messiness of race and of denying actors of color the ability to be culturally specific. This denial occurs because ultimately the desire to work supersedes the desire to reject role universality. As a case study, I examine the hit ABC primetime show Grey’s Anatomy (2005- ) as a way of illustrating how the blindcasting process became a part of public discourse that the television industry both praised and disowned.Item Diversity, abundance, seasonality and interactions of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in pecans in Mumford, Robertson Co., Texas(Texas A&M University, 2005-02-17) Calixto Sanchez, Alejandro AntonioAlpha diversity, population dynamics and interactions of ant assemblages were studied in a pecan orchard located in Mumford, Texas. The assemblages included the invasive species Solenopsis invicta Buren, known as the red imported fire ant (RIFA). The study addressed the major question of what is the response of the ant assemblage to the reduction of RIFA following insecticide applications (bait and contact insecticide) and the impact of these on individual species. To address this question three treatments were established in a 16 hectare area in the orchard. The treatments were randomly assigned in 1.33 hectare blocks with four replications and periodically monitored. Treatments were: 1) insect growth regulator (IGR) bait treatment (ExtinguishTM, active compound is 0.5% s-methoprene) applied twice in 2000 and once in 2001; 2) the contact insecticide chlorpyrifos (LorsbanTM) applied on tree trunks four times in 2000 and once in 2001; and 3) untreated Control. Blocks were sampled using pitfall traps, baited vials, direct sampling, and colony counts. Data were analyzed by using ANOVA-GLM with the LSD multiple comparison test to compare the effect of treatment on the ant assemblage (using the Shannon index) and the effect on individual species. Additionally, data obtained from Control plots were used to compare sampling techniques and to determine what method is most efficient for collecting ants in this agroecosystem. Shannon indices were estimated for each method and compared. The ant assemblage consisted of 16 ant species. S. invicta was the most abundant followed by Paratrechina sp. and Monomorium minimum. The IGR treatment consistently reduced RIFA (77%). Native ants were found to coexist with RIFA in the Control and chlorpyrifos plots at lower densities and maintained higher densities in IGR plots. Chlorpyrifos trunk treatment did not have a significant impact on RIFA or native ant densities. The native ant, Dorymyrmex flavus, was greater in IGR plots following RIFA reduction and higher densities were found to persist for more than two years after the last IGR treatment. During this period, D. flavus was observed carrying large numbers of dead RIFA, some taken inside the nest, and some disarticulated RIFA taken out of the nest. RIFA remains were accumulated in D. flavus middens, further indication of an important interaction between these two species. These results indicate D. flavus resisted reinvasion by RIFA.Item Effects of Economic Structure on Regional Economic Performance(2014-06-04) Hong, Sa HeumSince the most recent recession, many local governments, which excessively paid attention to economic growth, have undergone tremendous difficulties caused by severe fluctuations. It shows that economic stability also has to be considered as another critical factor that constitutes regional economic performance. Thus, in this dissertation, I evaluate regional economic performance in terms of both growth and stability. In most previous studies, economic structure was found to be a factor that can affect both growth and stability at the same time. However, in terms of measuring economic structure, diversity and specialization have been commonly treated as the exact opposite, increasing in one means decreasing in the other. Some researchers recognized the existence of multiple specializations in an economy but this concept has never been operationalized and empirically tested. Therefore, I extend the body of previous research by formulating an indicator to empirically measure multiple specializations in regional economies and examine the effect of multiple specializations on both growth and stability in one framework. Moreover, the economic structural effects can be estimated differently depending on the macro-economic situations. However, previous studies rarely considered the effects of macro-economic situations when investigating the effect of economic structure. Thus, to overcome this limitation, I apply panel analysis for the same statistical models in the above using the panel data which were constructed with four different time periods based on different macro-economic situations. The empirical analysis in this study finds that multiple specializations might positively affect economic growth while diversity can hinder growth. Otherwise, this study finds that increasing the levels of both diversity and multiple specializations can help regions to promote economic stability. It suggests that a region with a multiply specialized economic structure is more likely to experience both growth and stability at the same time. Additionally, the results of panel analyses inform that the effects of economic structure on growth vary across different macroeconomic situations while these structural effects on stability are consistently estimated, regardless of macroeconomic situations. This suggests that the economic development strategy using economic structure may indicate the different effectiveness by their objectives (i.e., growth or stability) or the macro-economic situations (i.e., boom or bust).Item The effects of habitat fragmentation on the diversity of nekton inhabiting subtropical seagrass meadows(2011-05) Hensgen, Geoffrey Michael; Holt, G. Joan; Munguia, Pablo; Ojanguren, Alfredo F.; Stunz, Gregory W.Habitat fragmentation is often regarded as a biodiversity threat associated with habitat degradation; however, research has also revealed beneficial effects on biodiversity as well, depending on the ecosystem and species community. This study examined the biodiversity of small nekton residing in seagrass meadows characterized by three levels of habitat fragmentation, and as a habitat gradient comprised of measures such as habitat amount, connectivity, patch shape, and proximity. Landscapes were mapped using recent advances in GPS and GIS technology, and analyzed using established methods from research in terrestrial ecosystems. Species richness was not significantly different as a function of fragmentation regardless of season, suggesting that the amount of habitat and configuration of several patches in fragmented habitats is sufficient to support comparable numbers of species in several patches compared to communities in large, continuous seagrass meadows. Species evenness declined significantly in fragmented habitats versus continuous ones in both seasons. Within fragmented landscapes, evenness progressively declined as habitat amount and connectivity decreased and patch isolation and density increased, suggesting that changes in landscape qualities can differentially impact processes supporting metapopulations such as dispersal and reproduction in certain species, thereby influencing community structure. Analyses that included measures of habitat connectivity, proximity, and patch density in addition to habitat amount accounted for more variability in species evenness than those just containing percent cover, and showed that fragmentation’s impacts can differ geographically. These data suggest that community resilience to fragmentation can differ between similar animal communities residing in separate locations, and that landscape configuration plays an important role in determining how communities respond to fragmentation after a threshold of change in habitat amount has been exceeded.Item The effects of habitat loss and fragmentation caused by woody plant encroachment on native plant diversity and on an invasive grass(2010-05) Alofs, Karen Marie; Fowler, Norma L.; Leibold, Mathew; Parmesan, Camille; Keitt, Timothy; Young, KennethHabitat loss, habitat fragmentation and species invasions have been recognized as three of the leading threats to biodiversity. I examined the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on native and invasive plants in central Texas. During the last century, the density and abundance of woody plants has been increasing in the savannas of eastern Edwards Plateau. This process, known as woody plant encroachment, not only reduces the amount of open herbaceous habitat but also fragments that habitat creating smaller and more isolated patches. In three studies, I investigated the consequences of this habitat loss and fragmentation for plants which do not occur under the cover of woody plants including native grasses and forbs and the invasive Eurasian bunchgrass, Bothriochloa ischaemum (King Ranch Bluestem). In the first study, I show that woody plant encroachment reduces native herbaceous species richness (the number of species in a given area). Using a collection of historical aerial photographs, I demonstrate that current native herbaceous species richness was most strongly related to recent habitat amount, but to the degree of habitat fragmentation at least 50 years ago. In a second study, I show that the presence of B. ischaemum was negatively related to the degree of fragmentation in the surrounding landscape. Finally, I found that B. ischaemum had higher rates of germination and growth in experimental plots where the species commonly lost with woody plant encroachment were removed than in unmanipulated control plots. Together, this work suggests that woody plant encroachment is directly slowing the spread of an invasive species while indirectly facilitating its establishment.Item Essays on Consumer Behavior and Demand Analysis(2014-07-07) Wang, XiaoyuanThe thesis consists of two loosely related essays. Both are motivated by consumers? behavior regularities in different market environments. My goal is to show evidence of behavioral biases among decision makers and the consequences of those behavioral effects. Given each market?s environment, I found evidence that consumers tend to deviate from what conventional theories dictate and the deviation may affect welfare analysis. The first market is a non-durable experience good market. Using empirical scanner data,we show evidence that consumers? switching rates among brands are higher than what brand characteristics and consumer heterogeneity can explain. The over-switching behavior may be consistent with consumers? brand satiation. As a result, the consumers may benefit more from a market with more variety. We provide a structural model of the satiation behavior and use the model to demonstrate the model prediction as well as the welfare effect. The second market is a laboratory sequential search market where sellers are allowed to use exploding offers. We show evidence that buyers may be affected by non-monetary incentives, which result in a higher rejection rate for the exploding offers. After accounting for the above mentioned ?exploding offer aversion?, sellers? optimal strategies may be shifted. As a result, sellers tend to use lower price as well as non-exploding offers more often.Item Essential practices for early childhood educators who value multicultural perspectives(2014-05) Lee, Sunmin, active 2014; Adair, Jennifer KeysThis report addresses the importance of multicultural education in early childhood classrooms as well as three essential practices for early childhood educators who value multicultural perspectives. The early childhood classroom is the first place in which children develop their identities and recognize cultural differences. Multicultural education can offer opportunities for children to value and understand cultural diversity as they have more experiences outside of their homes and neighborhoods. While there are many kinds of practices that support a multicultural perspective, this paper focuses on three multicultural practices that early childhood educators can incorporate in their classrooms in order to create authentic multicultural classrooms and to promote multiculturalism. The three practices are 1) integrating culturally relevant pedagogy/culturally responsive teaching, 2) understanding multicultural families, and 3) pursuing social justice. These practices can help early childhood educators better understand multicultural students and families and have more meaningful interactions and partnership opportunities with them.Item Evaluating liberal multiculturalism : what could political theory offer in accommodating diversity?(2010-08) Alptekin, Huseyin; Gregg, Benjamin Greenwood, 1954-; Hooker, JulietLiberal multiculturalism, at least in the lines of some of its advocates, is vulnerable to serious critiques. This paper lists all major critiques directed to liberal multiculturalism without necessarily agreeing with all. Yet, this is not a sufficient reason to drop it from the intellectual agenda. In contrast, it still stands as the most promising theory to solve the problems stemming from cultural diversity. The position taken in this report sees liberal multiculturalism insufficient in accommodating all the interests of all the parties involved (e.g., different minority groups, political positions, theoretical approaches). Yet, a flexible and contextual formulation of liberal multiculturalism is able to accommodate the broadest range of demands involved in the debate without any serious damage to the core liberal premises such as respecting freedom of choice and basic human rights. What is achieved with such a formulation is not an entirely consistent philosophical truth project, but a relatively flexible guide to solve public policy issues in the face of cultural diversity.Item Genetic diversity and combining ability among sorghum conversion lines(Texas A&M University, 2007-04-25) Mateo Moncada, Rafael ArturoSorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L] Moench) was first introduced to the United States in the 1800s. These introductions consisted of tropical varieties with a short day photoperiod response that limited their use in temperate hybrid breeding programs. Commercial exploitation of F1 hybrids in grain sorghum started by the mid 1950s with the use of cytoplasmic male sterility system CMS (A1). Even though other CMS are available, most sorghum hybrid seed production still relies on the A1 system. Genetic gain in most agronomic crop species is limited by several factors. In the specific case of sorghum, the uniform use of the CMS (A1) system and the recent introduction of sorghum to the United States have resulted in a reduction of its genetic base. In order to create enough genetic variability, plant breeders might utilize exotic non adapted material, exotic adapted material or existing elite material as a source of new alleles that will protect and improve genetic gain through selection. This study provides an estimate of the genetic diversity existing in a set of sorghum conversion lines. The objectives of this study were: (1) to estimate the genetic diversity present among a set of 16 sorghum conversion lines???? (2) to classify this set of lines based on genetic similarities estimated using AFLP markers and (3) to estimate heterosis, general and specific combining ability for grain yield among the set of conversion lines. Genetic diversity was present in the set of conversion lines evaluated. For the lines included only in this study, Caudatum was the most homogenous race (average GS = 0.69), and this race was closely related to the Durra race (Average GS = 0.66). Two other homogenous races were Bicolor and Kafir with average GS of 0.67. Highest GCA effects were obtained from the Kafir and Caudatum races. Good heterotic responses were obtained from DurraKafir races and CaudatumKafir races. Estimation of SCA, MPH and BPH identified specific crosses that were numerically superior than those of the checks. The use of AFLP markers allowed the identification of five strong clusters through estimates of genetic similarities. This classification did not group the lines by either their genetic background or their fertility reaction. This study provides information to identify specific combinations that would help to understand heterotic relationships in sorghum, and support the suggestions made by Menz and Gabriel that races in sorghum are not well defined.Item Genetic diversity and performance of maize varieties from Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi(Texas A&M University, 2007-04-25) Magorokosho, CosmosLarge scale and planned introduction of maize (Zea mays) in southern Africa was accomplished during the last 100 years. Since then, smallholder farmers and breeders have been selecting varieties best adapted to their specific growing conditions. Six studies were conducted to generate information on the current levels of genetic diversity and agronomic performance of both farmer-developed and commercially-bred maize varieties in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi to help in the identification of sources of new alleles for improving yield, especially under the main abiotic stresses that prevail in the region. In the first study, 267 maize landraces were collected from smallholder farmers in different agro-ecological zones of the three countries for conservation and further studies. Passport data and information on why smallholder farmers continue to grow landraces despite the advent of modern varieties were also collected along with the landraces. The second study revealed considerable variation for phenological, morphological and agronomic characters, and inter-relationships among the landraces and their commercial counterparts. A core sample representing most of the diversity in the whole collection of landraces was selected for further detailed analyses. The third study revealed high levels of molecular diversity between landraces originating from different growing environments and between landraces and commercially-bred varieties. The Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) data also showed that the genetic diversity introduced from the original gene pool from the USA about 100 years ago is still found in both the descendant landraces and commercially-bred varieties. The fourth study showed that in general, commercially-bred varieties outyielded landraces under both abiotic stress and nonstress conditions with some notable exceptions. Landraces were more stable across environments than improved varieties. The most promising landraces for pre-breeding and further investigation were also identified. The clustering patterns formed based on agronomic data were different from SSR markers, but in general the genotype groupings were consistent across the two methods of measuring diversity. In the fifth study, the more recently-bred maize varieties in Zimbabwe showed consistent improvement over older cultivars in grain yield. The apparent yearly rate of yield increase due to genetic improvement was positive under optimum growing conditions, low soil nitrogen levels and drought stress. The sixth study revealed that in general, genetic diversity in Zimbabwean maize has neither significantly decreased nor increased over time, and that the temporal changes observed in this study were more qualitative than quantitative. The results from the six studies confirm the origin of maize in southern Africa and reveals that considerable genetic variation exists in the region which could be used to broaden the sources of diversity for maize improvement under the current agro-ecological conditions in southern Africa.Item Hiring for diversity: practices of human resource administrators in minority majority school districts in Texas(2009-05-15) Vaughan, Donna AlonzoThe focus of this study was on hiring practices in Texas school districts of over 500 students containing ethnic minority students as the majority of the student population. It examined differences between the practices of districts with ethnic minority teachers as the majority of the teaching population as compared to districts with ethnic minority teachers as the minority of the teaching population. The study compares the role and title of human resource administrators, method of attracting a candidate pool, and if a formal statement of intent to hire a diverse staff existed. Surveys were mailed to human resource administrators in 227 Texas school districts. The following practices have been observed at a statistically significant level: There is an administrator responsible for teacher recruitment employed 100% for human resources and that individual does not have the title ?Superintendent.? There is a formal statement of intent to have a diverse or reflective staff. Posting job vacancies through local newspapers and major statewide universities were the methods used by a statistically significantly higher proportion of districts with a diversified staff. Posting at the Texas Education Agency Service was used by a statistically significant higher proportion of districts where the teacher population is less diverse and reflective of the student population. In districts where the teacher population is more diverse and reflective of the student population, there is a significantly lower proportion of districts that utilize statewide universities in recruiting and obtaining a pool of candidates to hire. The difference between the proportions of districts that utilized all other types of specific postings, including technological methods listed in this observational study, was not statistically significant. The traditional practices of hiring teachers for our school systems must change to reflect the pluralistic society of today. The findings of this research support that leadership, as expressed by a clear mission statement with intent to hire a reflective staff and the assignment of an administrator whose sole responsibility is for human resources, can and will overcome barriers toward hiring a reflective staff.Item The impact of anti-affirmative action lawsuits : a case study of The University of Texas School of Law from 1996 to 2003(2014-12) Riley, Samuel Ray; Vincent, Gregory J.Educational AdministrationItem An inclusive public sector workplace(2013-05) Lengnick-Hall, Rebecca Diane; Warner David C.; Travis, Dnika J.This report explores the intersection between public management and workplace inclusion. At its core, workplace inclusion refers to an individual's ability to participate meaningfully and access opportunities within an organization, regardless of his or her unique identity (Mor Barak, 2005 & Prime et. al, 2010). The public sector is of particular interest to this author because of the types of services provided, populations served, and people employed by government agencies. Structural constraints, high expectations of transparency, and broad accountability to the public at large also make public sector organizations a unique management setting. Hill and Lynn (2009) developed a three-dimensional approach to public management that is one of the foundations of this report. In their framework, the three dimensions of public management are structure, culture, and craft. This framework is used in this report because it captures the complex environmental and individual factors that influence a public manager's ability to achieve organizational goals. Mor Barak's (2005) model for an inclusive workplace serves as the second foundation for this report because it is on the cutting edge of social work research. Her model combines both business and social work perspectives to capture the multidisciplinary nature of workplace inclusion. Supplementing these models, private sector research is discussed to illustrate the potential examples, benefits, and limitations of creating an inclusive workplace. The purpose of this report is to create a foundation for future empirical research and to offer an inclusive public management perspective to practitioners. It attempts to integrate models from different disciplines and apply private sector research to a public management context. This report operates under the premise that management practice can be enhanced when the strengths and unique perspectives of different disciplines--such as social work, business, and public management--are shared and integrated. An effectively implemented inclusive public sector workplace model has the potential to mitigate social injustice at the organizational level and enhance an agency's ability to fulfill its mission.Item Intrasexual selection and warning color evolution in an aposematic poison dart frog(2014-05) Crothers, Laura Rose; Cummings, Molly E.; Bolnick, Daniel; Hofmann, Hans; Ryan, Michael; Summers, KyleFlamboyant colors are widespread throughout the animal kingdom. While many of these traits arise through sexual selection, bright coloration can also evolve through natural selection. Many aposematic species, for example, use conspicuous warning coloration to communicate their noxiousness to predators. Recent research suggests these signals can also function in the context of mate choice. Studies of warning color evolution can therefore provide new insights into how the interplay of natural and sexual selection impact the trajectory of conspicuous signal evolution. For my dissertation, I investigated the potential for male-male competition to impact the warning color evolution of a species of poison frog. I focused my work on an exceptionally bright and toxic population of the strawberry poison frog (Oophaga pumilio) where males are brighter than females, a classic signature of sexual selection. In Chapter 1, I used theoretical models of predator and frog visual systems to determine which can see the variation in bright warning coloration within this population. I found that birds, the presumed major predator, likely cannot see this variation, indicating that sexual selection can work under the radar of predators in this species. In Chapter 2, I tested the aggressive responses of males using a two-way choice paradigm that manipulated the perceived brightness of stimulus males. I found that males directed more of their behaviors to bright stimulus frogs, and brighter focal frogs more readily approached stimuli and directed more of their attention to the brighter rival. In Chapter 3, I tested the outcomes of dyadic interactions between males of varying brightness and observed male reactions to simulated intruders in their territories. I found that brighter males initiated aggressive interactions with rivals more readily, and brightness asymmetries between males settled interactions in a way that is consistent with classic hypotheses about male sexual signals. In Chapter 4 I sought to describe physiological correlates of male warning color brightness. While male brightness did not co-vary with classic measures of body condition (circulating testosterone and skin carotenoids), it did correlate with toxins sequestered from the diet and thus appears to be a reliable signal of toxicity in this population.Item Making diversity an institutional value : a look at five similar institutions of higher education In Texas(2011-05) Lowery, LaTanya Denell; Vincent, Gregory J.; Rudrappa, Sharmila; Sharpe, Ed; Bumphus, Walter; Garrard, Doug; Gonzales, StevenPrior research reveals that today’s students must develop a respect for diversity to function effectively in a global environment; otherwise they will be unlikely to succeed in the 21st century (Bikson & Law, 1994; University of Michigan Fortune 500 Amicus Brief, 1999; Abraham Lincoln Commission on Study Abroad, 2005). Unfortunately, many see diversity as having a mandatory acceptance policy attached to it. This view places the concept of diversity into a negative category. To help shift that negative slant a strategic effort is required to assist with redefining what diversity means and why acceptance of diversity adds value to an institution of higher education. Universities and colleges are comprised of staff, faculty, and students from differing backgrounds. Therefore it is important to maintain an environment that is conducive of respect, openness, and inclusion for all constituents served. By advancing that vision an institution can remain competitive and viable in today’s economy. As a commitment to promoting awareness of and appreciation for different types of diversity, many post-secondary Boards of Trustees and senior administrators are incorporating campus-wide diversity initiatives into every aspect of the campus framework (Ward, 2009). Specifically, senior-level positions referred to as Chief Diversity Officers are being created to oversee that diversity is incorporated as a core institutional value. The purpose of this study is to look at five similar public universities in Texas to see how the current demographic changes and projections are impacting both strategic plans and policies relating to diversity initiatives. Four research questions will guide this study: (1) What institutional and societal factors contributed to the establishment of the chief diversity office and the position of the chief diversity officer? (2) What is the difference between the role of the Chief Diversity Office and the role of a Multicultural Affairs Student Services Office? (3) How is diversity being made into a core value at an institution of higher education? and (4) How does the chief diversity officer assess that diversity is an institutional value? To gain insight into the research topic a qualitative methodology was used to collect and analyze the data. More specifically, the questionnaire and interview questions used in this study are a replication of David’s (1998) study of The Roles and Functions of Diversity Affairs Centers’ Chief Personnel Officers at Public Universities in Texas. The survey instruments were originally developed in 1992 by Ruth Moyer at Kent State University. The findings will be used to ascertain the extent to which institutions are making diversity a value.Item Moments of realization : the experiences, development, motivations and actions of student social justice allies(2010-12) Owney, Catherine Sanders; Reddick, Richard, 1972-; Reagins-Lilly, Soncia; Rudrappa, Sharmila; Somers, Patricia A.; Vincent, Gregory J.Social justice allies make important contributions to fighting oppression in campus environments and in their communities after college. However, knowledge of how one becomes a social justice ally is limited. This qualitative, phenomenological study was designed in an effort to better understand the social justice ally development process and advances the pioneering work of Broido (1997, 2000). Examination of student’s understanding of her/his formative and college experiences helped determine how each alone and in combination with other factors or experiences, contributed to her/his ally development process. The role of student affairs professionals and programs in this process was also examined. This study was conducted at The University of Texas at Austin, which was selected because of the historical context, institutional environment and diversity-related initiatives implemented over the past 10 years. Review of the literature on ally development reveals that a majority of the existing research focuses on allies who take action against heterosexism or sexism. Through this research project I addressed this gap by including student allies who focus on other areas of privilege/oppression including classism and citizenship status. This study also expands the analysis of social justice allies by including examination of the influence of gender on the development, motivations and actions of allies.Item Navigating a convergence of influences: athletic and academic identities of Black middle school club basketball players(2015-08) Smith, Martin P.; Harrison, Louis, 1955-; Urrieta, Luis; Moore, Leonard; Brown, Anthony; De Lissovoy, NoahHistorically and contemporarily the Black male experience has stimulated and provoked meaningful discussions in the realms of sport and academia. Black males are uniquely situated in American society, as they inhabit a liminal existence that oscillates between love and hate. Ladson-Billings (2011) expounds that Black boys are loved in the narrow niches of sport but are often abhorred in academic settings. The majority of research on the athletic and academic identities of Black student-athletes is conducted at the collegiate level in the revenue sports of basketball and football, and the research asserts that the collegiate sport atmosphere renders the two identities as mutually exclusive (Edwards, 1984; Harrison et al., 2011; Singer, 2008). There are studies occurring at the middle school level; however, these studies combine all male athletes into one group and do not distinguish the research participants according to their specific sport participation or racial background (Alfone, 2013; Fuller, Percy, & Bruening, 2013; Gorton, 2010). The few studies that distinguish between race and sport participation are somewhat dated (Mahiri, 1991, 1998; Nasir, 2000, 2008). This study addresses a gap in the literature by focusing solely on elite Black male middle school student-athletes to discover what leads to the seemingly incompatible athletic and academic identities that surface during college. I employed an instrumental case study grounded in Critical Race Theory which investigated and examined the experiences and perspectives of seven elite Black middle school club basketball players. Themes were generated by coding the interview data of all relevant stakeholders such as coaches, players, and parents as well as a thorough analysis of field notes, artifacts, and focus group data. Five themes emerged from the data, Academic Recognition, Athletic Recognition, Career, Racial Expectations, & Time Devoted to Sport and Intellectual Endeavors. This study is significant because it contextualizes the racial, athletic and academic climate of Black male athletes at a crucial time in their identity development. It contributes to the current literature by providing insight and furnishing essential information for parents, coaches and educators in order to bolster and enhance the academic identity and attainment of young Black male basketball players.