American Requiem: Reconceptualizing Success in the Culture of Power

Date of Award

8-15-2026

Degree Name

Ed.D. in Leadership for Organizations

Department

Department of Educational Administration

Advisor/Chair

Davin Carr-Chellman

Abstract

College access programs, like TRIO Upward Bound, are often structured around traditional metrics of success like GPA, test scores and degree attainment. However, these rigid benchmarks can inadvertently reinforce deficit-narratives. Informed by culturally relevant and critical frameworks, this mixed-methods action research study investigates the tension between access and assimilation by exploring how current Upward Bound participants conceptualize success and the program’s role in shaping those concepts. The study uses surveys and semi-structured interviews to reveal that participants define success on their own terms, value access over assimilation, and highlight the importance of family and community in their journey to success. The findings informed the Collective Success model, a student-driven service framework designed to promote cultural responsiveness and student-centered asset-based practice.

Keywords

Education

Rights Statement

Copyright 2026, author

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