This study, which focuses on the experiences of Native women attending a tribal college of the Northern Cheyenne Nation, responds to the call by Baird-Olson and Ward (2000) and Almeida (1997) for research that allows Native women, or the "hidden half," to tell their stories. Scant research has examined the value of tribal schools for Native American women and the experiences they have had in relation to their reservation and college lives. Providing narratives of women's experiences can illuminate how higher education in tribal college settings holds multiple values for Native women students as it acts as a refuge and a bridge to future opportunities. Specifically, Native students, particularly women, feel empowered as they are exposed to new opportunities and have valuable mentorship experiences. To better capture Native women's experiences in higher education, I use information from both participant observation in the tribal college setting and in-depth, one on one interviews. This study holds relevance for other minority groups as well, as there are many values of education beyond simply earning a degree. In this study, Native women recount their personal stories of life on the reservation, the value of mentorship and education, and their ideas of success, inspired by their love for their community. It further highlights the value of simply listening to the stories of women who are resilient despite the odds they face. Allowing their voices to be heard and their personal histories to be told is an integral part of understanding their story.

Ett livslångt lärande innebär att vi aldrig slutar lära oss, oavsett var i livet vi befinner oss. Därmed är det viktigt att organisationer kartlägger deras kompetens och behov i tid, för att minska risken att förlora kompetens när det är dags för medarbetare att gå i pension. Detta uppsatsarbete är grundat i en kvalitativ intervjustudie om hur kompetensöverföring vid pensionsavgångar upplevs, både av chefer och personer som nyligen gått i pension. Studiens syfte har varit att undersöka upplevelser av organisationers strategiska arbete med kompetensöverföring vid pensionsavgångar, med fokus på chefer och nyblivna pensionärer. Studien har utgått från följande frågeställningar: 1. Hur upplever chefer att de arbetar strategiskt med kompetensöverföring vid pensionsavgångar? 2. Hur upplever nyblivna pensionärer att deras organisationer arbetade för att säkerställa att deras kompetens inte gick förlorad vid pensionsavgången? För att undersöka detta har åtta informanter intervjuats, fyra chefer som arbetat med kompetensöverföring vid pensionsavgångar och fyra personer som nyligen (definierat som max tre år sedan) gått i pension. Informanterna valdes ut utifrån ett bekvämlighets- och strategiskt urval. Intervjuerna spelades in och transkriberades för att sedan analyseras utifrån en tematisk innehållsanalys. Ur denna analys utvanns fyra tematiseringar; mentorskap, vikten av långsiktigt arbete, betydelsen av att visa uppskattning samt fortsatt arbete efter pensionen. För att kunna genomföra en nyanserad och välgrundad analys har resultaten kopplats till teorierna kompetensöverföring, situerat lärande, socialt lärande och transformativt lärande. Resultaten av studien visade att många organisationer inte upplevs arbeta strategiskt och långsiktigt med kompetensöverföring vid pensionsavgångar, men att det är något som ur ett arbetstagarperspektiv vore önskvärt. Studien visade även på att en betydelsefull del är hur organisationer arbetar gentemot sina medarbetare för att främja en god känsla när de ska lämna organisationen. Slutsatsen blev att det kan finnas en vinst i att arbeta mer med denna fråga, ur både ett arbetsgivar- och arbetstagarperspektiv, men att det även är viktigt att poängtera att förlorad kompetens inte alltid måste vara negativt för organisationer. / A lifelong learning means that we never stop learning new things, no matter where in life we are. That is why it is important for organizations to map their competence and needs early on, to minimize the risk of losing competence when it is time for their staff to retire. This assignment is based on a qualitative interview study on how knowledge transfer during retirements is experienced, both by managers and people who have recently retired. The purpose of the study has been to examine the experiences of organizations' strategic work with knowledge transfer during retirements, with a special focus on managers and new retirees. The study has been based on the following questions: 1. How do managers feel that they work strategically with knowledge transfer during retirements? 2. How do new retirees feel that their organizations worked to ensure that their knowledge did not go to waste during the retirement? To examine this we interviewed eight informants, four managers who have worked with knowledge transfer during retirements and four persons who recently (in our definition a maximum of three years ago) retired. The informants were chosen from a convenience- and strategic selection. The interviews were recorded and transcribed to later on be analyzed based on a thematic content analysis. From this analysis we got four themes; mentorship, the importance of long-term work, the importance of showing gratitude and continued work after retirement. In order to carry out a nuanced and well-founded analysis, the results have been linked to the theories of knowledge transfer, situated learning, social learning and transformative learning. The results of the study showed that many organizations are not perceived to work strategically and long-term with knowledge transfer during retirements, but that it is something that would be desirable from an employee perspective. The study also shows that a meaningful part is how organizations try to foster a good feeling when their employees leave the organization. The conclusion was that there may be a profit in working more with this issue, both from an employer- and employee perspective, but that it is also important to state the fact that losing knowledge does not always have to be negative for organizations.

The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions of alternatively certified public K-12 teachers regarding their preparedness to teach and to identify key areas for training and administrative support needed for teacher retention. This basic qualitative study with elements of phenomenological design included a semi-structured focus group protocol in which 23 candidates participated in four focus groups. Study participants were provisionally licensed K-12 public school teachers in Virginia and represented elementary, middle, and high school teachers in both general and special education roles. Findings indicated that beginning teachers who have completed an alternative teacher certification program (ATCP) do not feel prepared for the teaching role and many have considered leaving the profession prematurely. Additionally, study findings indicate that ATCP teachers perceive that their training did not adequately prepare them for classroom management, working with parents, and managing the many responsibilities of a teacher, resulting in high levels of stress among provisionally licensed teachers. Data demonstrate that increased financial support for required coursework, a reduction in workload, mentoring programs, and more hands-on training will support ATCP teacher retention. Implications of this study's findings indicate that school, district, and state school leaders can positively impact ATCP teacher retention by implementing specific professional development programs, providing coaching and mentoring, and by adjusting ATCP training to better prepare their graduates for teaching in the areas of managing student behavior and working with parents. / Doctor of Education / The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the perceptions of alternatively certified public K-12 teachers regarding their preparedness to teach and to identify key areas for training and administrative support needed for teacher retention. In this study, 23 candidates participated in four focus groups. Study participants were provisionally licensed K-12 public school teachers in Virginia and represented elementary, middle, and high school teachers in both general and special education roles, as well as school counselors, foreign language teachers, career and technical education, and business teachers. Findings from this study indicate that teachers who complete alternative teacher certification programs (ATCPs) perceive that they are unprepared when they begin teaching as a result of their training and many consider leaving the profession prematurely. Provisionally licensed teachers perceive they lack adequate training in areas including classroom management, academic instruction, and working with parents, resulting in high levels of stress and feeling overwhelmed. Findings from this study indicate that school, division, and state level educational leaders can provide coaching, mentoring, and professional development opportunities for ATCP teachers that will promote their retention. This study provides a lens through which to examine the experiences of ATCP teachers and understand their perceptions of their unique training and experiences so that they can be better prepared and supported by school leaders in order to remain in the profession. This study also recognizes the resiliency of ATCP teachers who overcome unique challenges in order to remain in their teaching role and positively impact student achievement.

To harness the knowledge, skill and ability of the workforce demands that companies are intentional about human resource practices and processes, not only to retain workers but also equip them to maximise employee output. Critical among these practices is Onboarding. This research investigates how knowledge is transferred during onboarding in organisations in the post covid era, focusing on organisations that heavily rely on employee knowledge to gain a competitive advantage. For such organisations, business success depends on the unique knowledge and skill sets of their employees. The study employs a qualitative research strategy with a case study method to enable an in-depth examination of the subject in an organisation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with a purposive sampling of employees, managers, and HR professionals, as well as through organisational materials. The interviews were conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams, with measures taken to ensure data quality and adhere to ethical principles, including participant anonymity and consent. The findings highlight the need to reorganize company induction manuals, standardize procedures for role-specific onboarding, and establish mentorship programs to improve knowledge transfer during onboarding after covid. These changes can enhance organisational knowledge transfer processes, leading to more effective operations and improved onboarding experiences for new employees in the post-Covid era.

This study examined those employment-focused interventions (services, programming, mentorship, other supports) most effective in supporting an individual’s desistance from gang involvement. Utilizing a qualitative approach (interviews, document analysis and nonparticipant observation), this study engaged with individuals and organizations involved in the critical work of gang desistance to learn what makes their practices most effective. The criticality of gang desistance work lies in its efforts to address the thousands of lives continually lost each year as a result of gang-involvement and activity. Where gangs exist in cities, towns and communities across the country (and world, for that matter), the approaches of demonization, marginalization and suppression continue as the overwhelming response to gangs and gang activity. This study highlighted the individuals and organizations offering an alternative, employment-focused approach built on peer- and community-based efforts founded on inclusion and empowerment. Through the data collection, this study intended to identify and detail the practices of the research participants and why they are effective. Beginning with a review of available research within the field of gang desistance, an understanding of the evolving theories of the phenomenon of one desisting from gang involvement were explored, followed by an exploration of why individuals join gangs, the impacts of gang involvement, what prompts gang members to desist, and those interventions most supportive of this desistance. With an emphasis on service providers and leaders with the lived experience of gang desistance, as well as organizations dedicated to gang desistance work, the themes and evidence that emerged from the data collection provided deeper insights into how the process of desisting from gang involvement can be most effectively supported and realized. The outcome of this research pointed to several components of the work of gang desistance that make it most effective. These components focused on the desisting individual and the internal and external elements that both prompted and help maintained their desistance; the types of interventions most conducive to supporting a desisting individual––especially those focused on the individual’s identity desistance and self-efficacy; and, finally, those qualities of those service providers and organizations who provided these interventions and what made them impactful and effective. The findings of this study revealed that there are models, practices and other elements to support individuals toward effectively desisting from gang involvement. The findings also revealed the challenging and dynamic nature of the phenomenon of gang desistance––both for those desisting and those supporting them. Resulting from this nature of the work and the still developing field of gang desistance studies, these findings also offered areas of focus for future research toward a stronger understanding of the process of gang desistance, and, more importantly, the development and implementation of effective gang desistance concepts and practices.

Studies show that mentoring has a significant impact on the educational successes of minority students and the development of their personal and professional identity within their particular field of study. Within these mentoring relationships an environment is created to where students feel comfortable to discuss their various personal concerns that impact their matriculation through their undergraduate experience in a variety of ways. The purpose of this study is to document the experiences of undergraduate African American students majoring in agriculture while enrolled at a predominately white land grant institutions and explore opportunities for using mentoring as a tool and factor in assisting these students in persisting towards their undergraduate degree at Virginia Tech. The foundation of the study was based on Bean and Eaton's Psychological Model of Retention and Rodgers and Summers' Revised model of retention for African American students at PWIs. Findings from this study were articulated by students conceptualization of mentors as a supportive guide in contrast to procedural advising relationships, additionally how students have experiences mentorship with mentors with a range of identities; student interactions within their colleges and departments as well as their both indirect and direct mentorship experiences; their support, interaction and connection to the African American community on campus during their undergraduate tenure; and how the university's bureaucratic structure has an impact on their experience as African American students. / Master of Science in Life Sciences / Mentorship has a significant impact on the personal, academic and professional development of student during their undergraduate experiences at four-year institutions, having a large impact on their personal identity as well as how they view themselves within their particular field of study. Within these mentor and mentee relationship an environment is created where both parties develop rapport and understanding among each in order to be able to discuss concerns and interest that they may have that have an impact on their entire undergraduate experience in a number of ways. The purpose of this study is to document the experiences of undergraduate African American students majoring in agriculture while enrolled at a predominately white land grant institutions and explore opportunities for using mentoring as a tool and factor in assisting these students in persisting towards their undergraduate degree. The foundation of the study was based on two student development psychological models. Findings from this study were articulated by students conceptualization of mentors as supportive guide in contrast to procedural advising relationships, additionally how students have experiences mentorship with mentors with a range of identities; student interactions within their colleges and departments as well as their both indirect and direct mentorship experiences; their support, interaction and connection to the African American community on campus during their undergraduate tenure; and how the university’s bureaucratic structure has a impact on their experience as African American students.