Midwestern Career College Research & Industry Insights highlights faculty publications, scholarly contributions, and external research that informs vocational education and workforce training. Featured topics include hybrid work and employee performance, academic entrepreneurship in vocational colleges, student belonging in higher education, and national workforce research on nursing education models.
Midwestern Career College
Research & Industry Insights
Midwestern Career College faculty and academic leaders contribute to ongoing conversations in higher education, workforce development, and professional practice. The publications and research featured here reflect scholarship produced by MCC faculty as well as industry research that informs our understanding of vocational education and workforce needs.
Student Belonging & Wellness
Academic Entrepreneurship
Hybrid Work & Performance
Nursing Workforce Research
Faculty Scholarship & Publications
Selected scholarly and professional contributions by Midwestern Career College faculty and academic leaders.
Forthcoming Book Chapter
Beyond the Classroom: A Framework for Fostering Belonging and Wellness among Racially and Ethnically Minoritized College Students
Dr. Angel Resto • Program Director of Business Programs • Midwestern Career College
Dr. Angel Resto has been invited to contribute a chapter to an upcoming volume developed through the Rowan University College of Education. The chapter presents a relational pedagogy framework designed to strengthen student belonging and wellness among racially and ethnically minoritized college students.
Drawing on qualitative research conducted at an urban commuter institution, the work examines how faculty–student relationships, inclusive teaching practices, and flexible instructional modalities can support student belonging across in-person, hybrid, and online learning environments.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Article
A Story Within Stories: Using an Analytic Framework to Move from Individual to Collective Storying in the Analysis of Academic Entrepreneurship Narratives
Dr. Olga Gusak • Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs • Midwestern Career College • The Qualitative Report • 2025
Co-authored by Dr. Olga Gusak, this peer-reviewed article examines academic entrepreneurship in vocational higher education through narrative inquiry and thematic analysis. Drawing on interviews with executive leaders at for-profit colleges, the research explores how entrepreneurship in this sector is shaped by student success, institutional adaptability, stakeholder engagement, and innovation in academic practice.
The article also contributes a qualitative methodological framework for moving from individual stories to a collective narrative, offering insight into how mission-driven colleges evolve through shared meaning, service, and responsiveness to workforce and community needs.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Article
Hybrid Work Model in IT Companies for Effective Employee Performance
Dr. Shreya Virani • Business Lead Instructor • Midwestern Career College • International Journal of Organizational Analysis • 2026
This peer-reviewed study examines how hybrid work models influence employee performance in the information technology sector. Using a qualitative research approach, the authors analyze themes related to employee engagement, job satisfaction, work-life balance, and overall well-being in hybrid work environments.
The research contributes to ongoing discussions about how organizations can maintain productivity and employee satisfaction as flexible work models continue to evolve.
Industry Research Informing Career Education
External studies and policy-relevant research that provide broader context for nursing education, workforce development, and career-focused training.
External Research
Independent Study on Nursing Education Models
Bureau of Business Research, The University of Texas at Austin • 2026 • Referenced by CECU
An independent study by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin examined Registered Nurse (RN) and Practical Nurse (PN) education across institutional sectors. Using federal datasets, institutional interviews, and graduate survey data, the study found that for-profit nursing programs produce workforce outcomes comparable to public and nonprofit institutions while costing taxpayers substantially less per student.
The findings contribute to ongoing national discussions about healthcare workforce development, education funding models, and how different institutional sectors help address persistent nursing shortages in the United States.
