Degree Date

9-2016

Document Type

Dissertation - Public Access

Degree Name

Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy

Academic Discipline

Community Psychology

First Advisor

Bradley Olson, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Tiffeny Jimenez, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Suzette Fromm-Reed, Ph.D.

Abstract

The current study examined whether NLU fraternity students and non-fraternity students differ in how they experience multicultural openness and sense of community, and how these factors may contribute to their sense of leadership. Students (N = 55, 40 females and 15 males) at a university, both those part of a multicultural fraternity and those in the general population, were recruited to participate in the quantitative study (Study 1). The fraternity students were part of a mixed method design, additionally recruited for a qualitative portion of the study (Study 2). In Study 1 both groups were assessed on their multicultural openness, sense of community and leadership. Regression analyses revealed interesting, both consistent and differential, findings related to multicultural openness and sense of community as predictors of student perceptions of their leadership. The Study 2 qualitative findings of the members of the diversity-focused fraternity gave richer descriptions of how multicultural openness, sense of community, and leadership can be enhanced within this community. There was a clear difference in means between the fraternity students and non-fraternity students on the multicultural openness (Greek M= 4.2212 and non-Greek M= 3.7026). The study provided additional insight regarding students with higher scores on multicultural openness tended to score higher on leadership. The R Square for the two regressions suggested that the predictors of leadership accounted for 66% of the variance for the fraternity students and 34% for the non-fraternity students.

Comments

I am immeasurably appreciative for the experience and inspiration of my dissertation chair, Dr. Brad Olson, together with committee members, Dr. Tiffeny Jimenez and Dr. Suzette Fromm Reed in supporting and challenging me during this roller coaster of emotions.

I would like to recognize Dr. Judah Viola, Dr. Michael D. Anthony, Maria Isabel Gonzalez, Gloria Mullons, Estela Melgoza, Claudine Clarke, and Esmeralda Dominguez for their encouragement and support during this process.

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