Dr. Susan Swayze

Associate Professor, Educational Research

School: Graduate School of Education and Human Development

Department: Educational Leadership

Contact:

Email: Dr. Susan Swayze

Office Phone: (571) 553-3773

Dr. Swayze is an applied researcher and evaluator who transforms data into actionable information. In her 30-year professional career, Dr. Swayze has conducted studies at UCLA's Center for the Study of Evaluation, the Smithsonian Institutes, Johns Hopkins University, and Toronto Metropolitan University's Diversity Institute. She has authored over 50 peer-reviewed scholarly works in the areas of teaching and learning research and statistics, the experience of race in educational environments, psychological capital and psychological safety in learning and work environments, as well as STEM professional identity development.

Dr. Swayze utilizes her extensive practitioner knowledge to design learning experiences that facilitate successful student attainment of abstract concepts and complex topics in the following courses at GW: Introduction to Quantitative Research, Introduction to Educational Statistics, Group Comparisons & Designs (Inferential Stats), Qualitative Research Methods, Qualitative Data Analysis, Case Study Research Methods, and Mixed Methods. Dr. Swayze has taught graduate-level courses at GW since 1998 and joined the faculty full time in 2007. Prior to GW, she taught undergraduate and graduate courses at The Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland Global Campus, and The University of Mississippi.

Dr. Swayze earned graduate degrees in Education from UCLA - a Ph.D. in 1995 and an M.A. in 1991. In 1990, she graduated with honors from Washington & Lee University (in the second class of women) with a B.A. in Sociology & Anthropology. After completing her doctorate, Dr. Swayze earned an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.

Education

Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles

M.B.A., Duke University

M.A., University of California, Los Angeles

B.A., Washington and Lee University

Expertise

Mixed Methods
Case Study Research Methodology
Qualitative Research Methods
Statistical Analyses
Psychological Safety
Professional Identity Development

Publications

(Selected)

Beery, S. & Swayze, S. (2023). Pushed out to pasture: Gendered ageism through the eyes of women working in the U.S. federal civil service. Cogent Gerontology, 2(1), 1-20.

Butt, N. & Swayze, S. (2023). DEI practices to support Muslim Americans at work. In T. Melaku, A. Beeman, & C. Winkler (Eds.), Handbook on Workplace Diversity and Stratification (pp. 239-252). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

Sweet, J. & Swayze, S. (2023). Academic psychological capital: A novel approach to freshmen retention. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 25(2), 235-253.

Ford, V. & Swayze, S. (2022). Twenty-first century issues impacting turnover of IT professionals: From burnout and turnover to workplace wellbeing. In Information Resources Management Association, (Ed.), Research Anthology on Changing Dynamics of Diversity and Safety in the Workforce (pp. 1784-1810). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.

Swayze, S. (Ed.) (2020). Optimizing Data and New Methods for Efficient Knowledge Discovery and Information Resources Management: Emerging Research and Opportunities. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.

Swayze, S. & Jakeman, R. (2019). Diversity and inclusion in the academy: A classroom perspective. In Y. Inoue-Smith (Ed.), Faculty Roles and Changing Expectations in the New Age (pp. 50-65). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.

Sweet, J., Swayze, S., & Busse, K. (2019). The relationships between psychological capital and GPA: A study of one freshmen cohort. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 19(2), 129-146.

Swayze, S. & Ford, V. (Eds.) (2018). Innovative Applications of Knowledge Discovery and Information Resources Management. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.

Cannaday, H. & Swayze, S. (Eds.) (2017). Innovation in Diversity and Inclusion: Advancing The George Washington University commitment to academic excellence. Washington, DC: The George Washington University.

Sweet, J. & Swayze, S. (2017). The multi-generational nursing workforce: Analysis of psychological capital by generation and shift. Journal of Organizational Psychology, 17(4), 19-28.

Swayze, S. & Calvin, J. (2016). The Johns Hopkins University leadership development program for multicultural and multinational leaders: A graduate certificate program focused on developing cross-culturally competent leaders. >Organization Development Journal, 34(1), 109-118.

Little (Sweet), J. & Swayze, S. (2015). Employee perceptions of psychological capital and learning organization dimensions in a community medical center. Organization Development Journal, 33(2), 79-102.

Swayze, S. & Calvin, J. (2015). Supporting humanism in the development of globally oriented managers: The Johns Hopkins University Leadership Development Program. In N.C. Lupton & M.A. Pirson (Eds.), Humanistic Perspectives on International Business and Management (pp. 229-240). New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.

Ford, V., Swayze, S., & Burley, D. (2013). An exploratory investigation of the relationship between disengagement, exhaustion and turnover intention among IT professionals employed at a university. Information Resources Management Journal, 26(3), 55-68.

Goldman, E. & Swayze, S. (2012). In-depth interviewing with healthcare corporate elites: Strategies for entry and engagement. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 11(3), 230-243.

Presentations

(Selected)

Swayze, S., Spencer, N., & Onagbeboma, O. (2023, July). Insights from Black Women Leaders: Barriers and strategies for success. Panel presentation conducted for the Diversity Institute, Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Canada.

Swayze, S. et al. (2022, October). No more gates or gatekeepers: STEM is for everyone. Panel presentation conducted for GlobalMindED STEM Equity webinar series.

Swayze, S. et al. (2022, September). Changing the narrative about Black and Latino boys in STEM. Panel presentation conducted for the Future Kings webinar series.

Swayze, S. et al. (2021, December). Equity impact at scale: Collaborations moving the levers of access. Panel presentation conducted for the World Academy of Art and Science, International Conference on Future Education, virtual.

Swayze, S. (2021, October). Creating a psychologically safe space for classroom conversations about race. Poster presented at the Conference on Innovative Pedagogy in Higher Education, virtual.

Swayze, S. (2021, July). The role of leadership in diversity, equity, & inclusion. Keynote speech conducted for the Virginia Military Institute Alumni Engagement Conference, Lexington, VA.

Swayze, S. (2021, July). Building a psychologically safe classroom: Enhancing learning with well-being techniques. Poster presented at the ITLC Lilly Conference on Enhancing Online, Onsite, and Hybrid Teaching and Learning, virtual.

Swayze, S. et al. (2021, May). Infusing DEI across the curriculum: How and now. Chair, panel presentation at the GlobalMindED conference, Denver, CO.

Calvin, J., & Swayze, S. (2021, March). Research insights for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Presentation at the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Summit, Baltimore, MD.

Swayze, S. et al. (2021, March). Black women in tech: The process for diversifying the tech industry. Panel presentation at the World Education Summit, United Kingdom.

Sweet, J., & Swayze, S. (2018, February). Psychological capital and the multi-generational nursing workforce. Paper presented at the Academy of Human Resource Development, Richmond, VA.

Swayze, S., & Jakeman, R. (2015, November). Talking about race: Having difficult classroom conversations. Paper presented at the Critical Questions in Education Conference, Baltimore, MD.

Jakeman, R., Swayze, S., & Hockersmith, W. (2014, April). Who can talk? Risky conversations and self-disclosure in the classroom. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia, PA.

Swayze, S., Jakeman, R., & Hockersmith, W. (2014, April). From diversity to inclusion: What graduate students say about the college environment. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia, PA.

Jakeman, R., & Swayze, S. (2014, March). How do you define diversity and inclusion? Future higher education administrators offer divergent views. Paper presented at the National Association of Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, Baltimore, MD.

Swayze, S., & Jakeman, R. (2014, February). Talking about diversity: The faculty role. Paper presented at the Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy, Blacksburg, VA.

Swayze, S., & Jakeman, R. (2014, February). Talking about diversity: What students say. Paper presented at the Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy, Blacksburg, VA.

Henry, G., Swayze, S., & Jakeman, R. (2013, May). African American male students in Black Greek letter organizations at predominantly white institutions. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, CA.

Little (Sweet), J., & Swayze, S. (2013, February). The relationship between the constructs of psychological capital and learning organization dimensions in a community medical center. Paper presented at the Academy of Human Resource Development, Arlington, VA.

Swayze, S., & Calvin, J. (2013, February). Nine months of transformation: From leader development to leadership development [study of a cohort of minority managers]. Paper presented at the National Association of African American Studies, Baton Rouge, LA.

Calvin, J., & Swayze, S. (2012, February). Global leadership development of minority managers: A study of two cohorts. Paper presented at the National Association of African American Studies, Baton Rouge, LA.

Swayze, S. (2010, August). Using multiple methodologies: Advantages and evaluation. Paper presented at the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration, Washington, DC.

Tetley, J., & Swayze, S. (2010, April). Gender differences in first-year students’ views of self: Hope, meaning in life and self-authorship. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association, Denver, CO.