Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Dissertation - NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice

Advisor

Mary Lynn Vogel

Committee Member

David Weintraub

Committee Member

Kimberly Durham

Keywords

burnout, stress, higher education, preferred practices, alleviation of burnout

Abstract

Burnout among higher education professionals is a growing concern, impacting faculty well-being, job satisfaction, and institutional effectiveness. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of burnout among faculty and staff in higher education, seeking to understand its underlying causes, manifestations, and coping strategies.

Utilizing semistructured interviews with a diverse sample of higher education professionals, this study captured the personal and professional dimensions of burnout through thematic analysis.

Findings revealed key stressors, including workload demands, administrative pressures, and emotional exhaustion, while also highlighting resilience strategies such as peer support, boundary-setting, and institutional interventions.

The study contributes to existing literature by providing a deep, experience-based understanding of burnout, offering insights for policy development, faculty well-being initiatives, and organizational change. By centering the voices of those affected, this research may inform sustainable strategies that promote a healthier academic work environment.

Download
To access this thesis/dissertation you must have a valid nova.edu OR mynsu.nova.edu email address and create an account for NSUWorks.

Free My Thesis

If you are the author of this work and would like to grant permission to make it openly accessible to all, please click the Free My Thesis button.

  Contact Author

Share

COinS