Congratulations to Thomas Lambe who on Wednesday, March 20, 2026, successfully defended his dissertation proposal.
The title of Thomas’ dissertation is "DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATORS IN NEW JERSEY."
Overview of Problem: The school business administrator role has a unique, solitary career path unlike any other K-12 school leadership position in New Jersey. As a result, diversity, equity and inclusion for this position, as measured by salaries, career paths, career choices and work-life balance, have never been formally studied.
Research Purpose: By cross-referencing school business administrators' salaries with district demographic data and career decision factors, this study will use statistical methods to analyze whether salary disparities exist by gender or race/ethnicity when other variables are controlled.
Research Design: Quantitative study using regressions, Analysis of Co-Variance, t-tests and other statistical methods.
Sample: Active certified school business administrators and assistant school business administrators holding New Jersey's school business administrator certificate.
Data Collection and Analysis: Secondary data from the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials, including salaries, demographics, and district-level factors, including size, budget, location and socioeconomic status. Primary data from a voluntary survey will provide career decision-making and work-life balance considerations. Together, they will provide a complete picture of barriers and pathways for school business administrator careers.
Dissertation Committee Chair:
Dr. Nora C.R. Broege
Dissertation Committee Members:
Dr. Peter Troiano
Dr. Lynn Allen
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