Thesis (Ph. D.)--Syracuse University, 2009. / "Publication number: ."

<p> This narrative inquiry explores the professional identity construction of Black women U.S. Government Senior Executive Service members in the Washington, DC area. In line with narrative inquiry methodology, this study is guided by a research puzzle. The research puzzle guiding this study concerns how Black women Senior Service members experienced being Black women as they progressed in their careers and how those experiences may have contributed to the construction of positive professional identities. Black women are underrepresented in the Senior Service of the United States Government. Over the next decade, however, the number of Black women entering the Senior Service is expected to steadily increase. With this, it is crucial to understand the positive professional identity construction experiences of Black women who have achieved Senior Service membership. </p><p> Six Black women Senior Service members were selected to participate in this study, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The results of the study are presented in the form of narrative accounts, which are a retelling of participant stories. The researcher also identified common elements across participant accounts then organized a presentation of those elements as five sets of experiences that influenced positive professional identity construction: 1) early life and work experiences, 2) support, 3) identity threat, 4) movement toward the true self, and 5) connection. Moreover, this research suggests that there are specific opportunities to enhance Black women&rsquo;s potential for constructing positive professional identities, thus contributing to nuanced theories of positive professional identity construction. </p><p>

<p>Mentorship in the workplace is a critical component of leader development that benefits both the individual and organization. While the United States Army&rsquo;s mentorship program takes an informal approach to initiating mentoring connections, active mentorship is an expectation of all leaders. Women in the army remain underrepresented in the senior ranks, creating a situation that may lead to more limited opportunities for the female-to-female interactions that would result in a diverse mentoring experience. This qualitative case study explored the mentoring experiences of a purposive sample of interviews with 10 women officers assigned to Brigade Combat Teams while stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. Results were analyzed using two cycles of inductive coding and pattern-matching techniques. The six themes that emerged provide insight into the conditions and mechanisms that may create more effective professional mentoring relationships for military leaders. </p><p> <i>Key Words</i>: female mentoring, women&rsquo;s mentorship, United States Army officers, U.S. Army officers, leader development, qualitative </p>

<p> Prisons in the United States are full to capacity because of the revolving doors created by recidivism. African American women comprise a significant proportion of those who return to prison, yet most studies about women and recidivism focus on the experiences of white women. The communities into which formerly incarcerated African American women are released do not make things easier in terms of the potential for reoffending because of the difficult access to good jobs, safe housing, good health care services, and assistance with child cares services. Using Cullen&rsquo;s social support theory as the foundation, the purpose of this general qualitative study was to explore the perspectives and post-release experiences of participants while living in their community. Fourteen African American ex-convicted women, ages 18 to 55 who reside in a large mid-Atlantic city participated in open-ended interviews to further explore the social factors related to recidivism. These data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Key findings include that success is tied to a sense of self, most participants expressed a sense of gratitude for their success, and that family, friends, government support, and the effects of rehabilitation programs contribute to success in living in communities after release from prison. The positive social change implications of this study include recommendations to correctional officials to focus on strengthening opportunities for pro-social interactions with appropriate support systems including working with other government agencies to reach out to formerly incarcerated African American women for services that are unique to their needs and circumstances. These efforts may improve public safety through reductions in future crimes.</p><p>