Date of Award

August 2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Jocelyn Gutierrez

Abstract

This study addresses the perceptions and experiences of student-facing staff within the Divisionof Student Affairs at the University of North Dakota to understand how they currently have their holistic well-being needs met through the Work Well department and the support they receive from the senior administration. A detailed review of the relevant literature is included. A qualitative single-case study research methodology is used alongside the Social Cognitive Theory framework to examine the current perceived support student-facing staff have.

The case study follows a bounded system approach with the Work Well department serving as the site selection as the worksite wellness department creating health promotion programs on campus. Data collection involves the analysis of Work Well documents, interviews with student-facing staff, and interviews with administrators within the division. Utilizing narrative and thematic analysis as defined by Merriam (1998), emergent categories and themes helps answer the research questions. The proposed solution to address this problem of practice is the development of an innovative program plan based on the findings from the case study. This initiative, called Quest for Rest, is a holistic, socially driven health promotion program designed to enhance work-life integration, combat burnout, and mitigate stress for the student-facing staff. The primary focus of this study is to prioritize the well-being of staff to create a positive trickle-down effect on the well-being of the students. Key Words: Burnout, Case Study, Employee Health, Health Promotion, Higher Education, Holistic, Multi-dimensional, Program Plan, Student Affairs, Student-facing Staff, Well-being, Work Well, Work-life Integration, Worksite Wellness

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