Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Open Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Leadership Studies

First Advisor

Dr. Dan Jenkins

Second Advisor

Dr. Tara Cotes

Third Advisor

Dr. Mary Anne Peabody

Abstract

This dissertation presents a qualitative descriptive case study examining the research culture at Homarus University (HU), a Regional Comprehensive University (RCU) in the northeastern United States. The study addresses a gap in existing research culture literature, which primarily focuses on research-intensive institutions. This project explored the research culture of an RCU through stories, symbols, and traditions related to research. Data was collected through twenty interviews with faculty, staff, and students, alongside an analysis of library archives. The research also incorporated reflective practices by the researcher, acknowledging the researcher’s positionality as both an insider and an outsider to HU's research environment. The findings indicate a complex narrative influenced by historical contexts, location, leadership, and the motivation of stakeholders. Key themes reveal a mutual relationship between research and teaching, resource constraints acting as a catalyst for innovation, and the influence of locality and regionality on the research culture, and the role of leadership in the research process. The study highlights that HU's research culture is dynamic, diverse, and committed to applied, socially relevant, and interdisciplinary research despite being a non-research-intensive university. The paper concludes with lessons learned from conducting the case study and possible suggestions on how the knowledge of the research culture at HU can be applied to other institutions to help address the current crisis facing research institutions. Keywords: Research culture, Regional Comprehensive University (RCU), qualitative descriptive case study, educational leadership, research leadershi

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