Elizabethtown College Public Health major Samhar Almomani ’24 is working alongside staff mentor, Associate Director of Diversity, Equity & Belonging Darcey V. Mills ’18 to increase equity and inclusivity on campus by translating research findings into long-term changes.
Their research identifies insights that will drive the formulation of suggestions to improve DEB programs and initiatives by undertaking a qualitative content analysis of comments from Data Walks and evaluating the Campus Climate Survey report, which was completed by the Elizabethtown College campus community during the 2022-23 academic year.
Their work on campus is part of the Elizabethtown College Summer Creative Arts and Research Program (SCARP).
Title of Research
Issuing Recommendations for Diverse Student and Employee Retention at PWIs
Student Researcher
Samhar Almomani ’24 (Public Health major)
Staff Mentor
Darcey V. Mills ’18, Associate Director of Diversity, Equity & Belonging
What are you researching?
Our project seeks to produce recommendations to increase the capacity and reach of the Office of Diversity, Equity & Belonging. The proposed project will lead to valuable recommendations about advancing diversity and equity in small, primarily white institutions (PWIs) of higher education (i.e., Elizabethtown College). The recommendations we come up with will center on increasing the retention and success of historically marginalized student populations and increasing the retention of historically marginalized employees at Elizabethtown College.
Why did you choose this topic?
The immediate applicability of the project, specifically within the Elizabethtown College community, furthers its significance as it amplifies the College’s strategic commitment to Inclusive Excellence. The transferability of this research also adds to its significance. Conducting research that is applicable to other contexts is especially helpful as higher education institutions increase their commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. I love being able to apply my research to real-life situations, and this research allows me to do just that!
What is the most interesting aspect of this research?
The most interesting part of this research is working with survey results from members of the Etown community. This allows us to create recommendations specifically curated for Etown, which would ensure the long-term success of the project. It is also broad in scope, focused on programming, workshop trainings, and other suggestions to assist student and employee retention.
How has your staff mentor helped you?
Darcey has been helpful as the Associate Director of Diversity, Equity and Belonging. In his position, he works first-hand with event programming, finding ways to integrate inclusivity and belonging on campus and increasing diversity initiatives. His experience in this role has proven invaluable as he has taught me the best ways to approach a project that involves this kind of work in education.
Hear from the staff mentor – Darcey Mills
“The mission of Elizabethtown College promotes the development of personal strengths, lifelong learning, and meaningful work,” Mills said. “The project’s goal of increasing the retention and success of historically marginalized student and employee populations contributes directly to the creation of a supportive and inclusive learning environment. The significance of the project lies in its potential to spark campus-wide action, resulting in greater equity and inclusivity on campus. I’m particularly interested in how the research findings translate into tangible and long-term changes on campus, and continued collaboration with campus organizations.”