The Action Research Project involves a collaborative and participatory inquiry undertaken by master's candidates to understand concerns that are close to them so that they can address a particular problem and influence change. The basic premise of action research in our department is that students will be more effective in their work when they build a capacity to reflect upon and examine their own practice.

To complete an action research report, students:

  • Identify a problem preferably in his/her own organization, department or place of work;
  • Decide upon a research question;
  • Review relevant research and theories to inform the work;
  • Design and conduct research; and
  • Write up a paper based on his/her findings and the process as a whole; and present the work at the annual presentation event (held in May)

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Action Research Projects from 2024

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Community College Transfer Student-Athlete Transition to USD: Cultivating a Campus of Village Awareness, William Francis Guarino

Action Research Projects from 2023

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First-Generation Latina Testimonios: Navigating a Predominantly White Institution and Achieving Academic Success, Nancy Correa

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Cultivating Success for Foster Youth Students in Higher Education through Mentorship, Anita Duong

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Fostering Connection Through Ecological Identity: Expanding Colonial Concepts of Outdoor Adventures, Elizabeth Farrell

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The Untapped Potential of Commuters: Engaging Faculty and Staff to Foster a Commuter-Inclusive Space and Student Interest at the University of San Diego, Monica Gonzalez Herrera

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The Valley in Between: Fostering Biracial Pride and Exploring Community on USD Campus, Pauline Herring

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Creating Community Among Women of Color in STEM at the University of San Diego, Alejandro Picasso

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Balancing Act: A Study of Graduate Student-Parents and Their Experiences Navigating Family and Academic Demands at the University of San Diego., Jessica Rammell

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COVID-19 Impact on Undergraduates Sense of Belonging at the University of San Diego, Katherine Reyes

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“The Juggle Is Real”: An Examination of the Realities Faced by Working Mothers at the University of San Diego and the Impact of Institutional Policies on Their Quest for Work-Life Balance, Colleen K. Smith

Action Research Projects from 2022

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Uncomfortable but Necessary: White Faculty Identity Development and Race Conversations, Monique B. Appel

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Exploration into the Graduate International Student Narratives, Diana BuDoff

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Supporting Reverse Transfer Students: From Trauma to Transition and Triumph, Stephanie Burga

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Walk the Talk: Value Congruence for Social Change in Panhellenic Sororities, Anjelica Cespedes

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The Effects of Military Education Benefits on First-Generation Military-Dependent Children’s College Experience and Independence, Jemefer Angela Cruz

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Male Engagement at the University of San Diego, Ryan Dillon

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Increasing Student Employee Engagement and Knowledge Retention Using Grounding and Mindfulness Practices, Jeffrey Fox

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Nuestra Fuerza: Understanding the Resilience of Latinx, First-Generation Students from Single-Parent Families, Alejandra Gonzalez-Zuniga

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The Making of College Student Leaders: Implementing Reflective Practices for Self-Awareness of Personality Traits and Leadership Styles, Valerie Gurrola

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Black, Thriving and Revising: Unapologetic Counternarratives, Ancestral Wisdom and the Fortification of Black Women's Leadership, Rebecca Hill

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Logo le Naiama: Navigating Postsecondary Support with Students of American Sāmoa, Nuanua Hosanna Iuli and Fa'aalu Faleoese Iuli

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Increasing Accessibility, Early Prevention, and Use of Wellness Programs, Experiences, and Services for Undergraduate STEM Students, Lizeth Juvera

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¡Oye!: Música as the Conduit to Conocimiento for Latinx Students, Jonathan Limon

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El Éxito de Mamá e Hija: Uplifting and Valuing the Assets Latinas Bring to Higher Education and Beyond, Daisy Martinez and Elitania Meza

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Wellbeing @ Work: The Holistic Development of On-Campus Student Employees, Matthew McIver

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Exploring Restorative Justice as an Adaptable Resolution for Gender-Based Misconduct, Jessica D. Naidu

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Queering Learning Spaces: Creating Welcoming Environments for Queer Students in STEM, Petar Nastoski

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A Whole New World: Understanding the International Student Experience in the United States through Acculturation, Identity, and Support, Maria W. Nessim

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Enhancing Graduate Student Onboarding to Strengthen Graduate Student Sense of Belonging and Ease the Transition into Graduate School, Shannon Patiño

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Public Safety Presence and Response in Campus Housing: Using Restorative Justice Interventions to Mitigate Harm and Restore Trust in the Residential Community, Sydney Pidgeon

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Blaqueer and Here: Black Queer and Trans Students’ Path to Thriving, Marvens Pierre

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Disrupting the Deficit with Latinx Cultural Wealth: Creciendo en la Excelencia, Stephanie Pineda

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¡Arriba Las Mujeres!: Incorporating Self Care Practices, Pláticas, and Testimonios to Enhance Leadership Development amongst Latina Student Leaders, Alandra Sanchez

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The Secret Recipe: Unpacking the Mentorship Experience Between the Guardians of Academy and First-Generation Students of Color in Higher Education, David F. Santos Castillo

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Hazing Prevention is “For the Boys”: Enhancing Student Agency in Fraternity Life Anti-Hazing Movements, Kylie Transki

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College Athletics and the Exploitation of the Black Body, Nathan Wiggins

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Black Panhellenic Sorority Member Experience at the University of San Diego: Finding a Sense of Belonging & Support, Kayla A. Wilkins

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Restorative Justice in a Co-Ed Greek-Letter Organization, Olivia Wurzbach

Action Research Projects from 2021

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Leadership and Professional Development Amongst Student Interns, Amanda Brown

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Coloring in the Grey Area: The Fine Line between Academic and Student Affairs, Mannie Brown

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“I Hope Someone Does Something:” Building Capacity for Awareness and Action at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Risa Farrell

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Breaking Down Barriers: Using Collaboration to Increase the Accessibility of Campus Resources for Graduate Students, Caitlin Hayles

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Fostering acceptance and visibility within Latinx student organizations for LGBTQ+ Latinx-identifying students, Crystal Ibarra

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Asian American Undergraduates Sense of Belonging at a Predominantly White Institution, Miso Jang

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Promoting Professional Development through Appreciative Inquiry: Aiding the Transition of College Student Employees as Emerging Professionals, Juleane Johnson

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Creating a Culture of Assessment to Elevate Students’ Voices, Amber Knight

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The Action is Listening: Undergraduate Women of Color & Sense of Belonging at USD, Mayzong Lee

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First-Generation Commuter Student Experiences, Heena Lodhia

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Para la Comunidad: Centralizing Latinx Scholars at an Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution, Valerie Mora

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Mapping Organizational Culture: Creating a Framework for Change in the Faculty Resident Program at Saint John’s University, Daniel Morgan

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Understanding Whiteness and Anti-Racist Attitudes in White Student Leaders, Gabriella P. Rangrej

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Career Readiness and the Fraternity and Sorority Experience, Chad Reyes

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Undocumented Students at the University of San Diego: Using Testimonios as a Theoretical Framework to Understand Their Meaning-Making Process, Isela Reyes

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But What Can I Do? Engaging White Institutional Agents in Anti-Racist Reflection and Practice, Allie Ross

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Becoming Aware of the Leader Within: Measuring the Impact of Mindfulness Practices on Leadership Development, Ayumi Tachikawa

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"It’s a lot of work to be Native": Using Storytelling to Examine the Needs of Native American Students at the University of San Diego, Kasandra Tong

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Linking Extracurricular Involvement and Mental Health, Nicholas Twohig

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Understanding and Enhancing the Graduate Admissions Experience For DACAmented/Undocumented Students, Taylor Ulrich

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Fostering Sustainable Wellness Practices Through Programming For Residential Education Staff at the University of San Diego, Edith Velasco

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The Commuter Student Experience: Building Community at USD, Jocelyn Velasquez

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Pulling off the Curtain on the Southeast Asian American Student Experience at UC San Diego, Kathy Vilaysith

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Connecting First-Generation Students to Leadership Opportunities, Christian Walker

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Key Considerations and Creating Professional Development Opportunities for Staff at USD for Facilitating Healthy Masculinity, Julian Watson

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Appreciating Empathy: How Writing Center Collaborations Inform Leadership Development for Student Wellness and Success, Hugo Werstler

Action Research Projects from 2020

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Student Success Coaching: Intentional Training for Professional and Program Development, Andrea Aduna

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Paving the Way: Enhancing the Transfer Admission Practices at the University of San Diego, Andrew Alsoraimi-Espiritu

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Campus Collaboration at the University of San Diego for Student Veterans, Jennifer Castro Garcia

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Black Male Student Leadership, Involvement, and Confidence in the Community College Setting, Shanelle Changotra

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Onboarding Transfer Students at the University of San Diego, Andrea Garcia

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Looking Within The Rainbow: An Action Research Project on The Rainbow Educators, Hannah Gray-Chambers

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Immersive Leadership: Creating an Experiential Curriculum to Build our Students' Leadership, Kimberly Guzman

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Achieving Student Learning Outcomes Through Intentional Orientation Leader Training Curriculum at UC San Diego, Kelley Kozlowski

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First-Gen Mental Health: The Experiences of First-Generation Graduate Students at the University of San Diego, Edith Mendez

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Retention of Returning Orientation Team Leaders, Matthew Menor

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Fostering Peer Mentorship Amongst Student Conduct Leaders, Gianna Metz

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First Generation College Students’ Connection to Campus Involvement at the University of San Diego, Ashley Ortega

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Caring for the Whole Self: Analyzing the Relationship Between Graduate Students’ Involvement on Campus and the Onset of Imposter Syndrome, Christian Perez

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Leadership Development of Women in Panhellenic Organizations, Kristen Reynolds

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Exploring Self-Empowerment Among Women of Color in Education, Adriana Rivas

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Recognizing Resiliency in the Experiences of Current and Former Foster Youth in Higher Education, Laura Rivera

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Evaluating First-Generation Students’ Career Readiness, Mariana N. Robledo de la Torre

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Intentional Curriculum Development for an Introductory Leadership Course at the University of San Diego, Kayla Snow

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Exploring the Narratives of Underrepresented Southeast Asian Students in Higher Education, Donna Soukantouy

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Connecting the International Experience, Michelle Wong

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Intentional Residential Programming for Upper Division Students, Sally Zheng

Action Research Projects from 2019

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Empowering Filipino American Young Adults Through Culturally Relevant Leadership Experiences, Donnaly Y. Atajar

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Fostering Healthy Masculinity at the University of San Diego, James Beh

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Support Services for Formerly Incarcerated Students, Janelle Brown-Peters

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Enhancing Racial Allyship at a Predominately White Institution, Breana Z. Clark

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Group Development for Transformational Change: co-creating and co-developing an efficient peer advisor team at San Diego State University using the group analysis system BART and Feminist Leadership, Delia Contreras

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Soaring Through Leadership Development, Marisela Cornejo

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STEP Into Success: An Exploration of the Impact and Potential of the Second Year Torero Experiential Program, Carlos E. Cortes

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Financial Matters and Student Success Rates: Undergraduate Transfer Students at the University of San Diego, Timothy Duran

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Coming Together: Graduate Students and Community Engagement, Irma Gonzalez

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A Student’s Journey to Career Readiness: Maximizing On-Campus Employment, Daniela Saldana Gurgol

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Peer-to-Peer Interactions Between First-Generation Students at the University of San Diego, Christopher Kitchings

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A Collaborative Approach Toward Onboarding for Graduate and Law Students, Yuri Kwak

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The Impact of Hypermasculinity on Students' Development in Fraternity Organizations, Cristian McGough

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Culture in Mind: Fostering a Sense of Belonging for Students of Color in Wellness-Affiliated Spaces, Mandy Mekhail

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Changemakers Bend the Beam Inward: Contemplative Practices in Social Innovation Education, Catherine Northcutt