1. Setting the stage page 1-20 -- 2. Seeking understanding of school culture: Using theory as a framework for observation and analysis page 21-41 -- 3. Struggling with theory: A beginning scholar's experience with mazzoni's area models page 42-61 -- 4. Black feminist thought and examining the experiences of black graduate women in the academy page 62-79 -- 5. Transformational learning and HIV-positive young adults page 80-95 -- 6. Using multiple theoretical frameworks to study organizational change and identity page 96-118 -- 7. Using "Othermothering" to study administrative work life at historically black colleges and universities page 119-132

8. Mary Douglas's typology of grid and group page 133-158 -- 9. Adapting bourdieu's field theory to explain decision-making process in educational policy page 159-178 -- 10. A look through the Kubler-Ross theoretical lens page 179-197 -- 11. Examining the intersection of race, gender and environment using Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological systems theory of human development page 198-215 -- 12. Lagniappe: Theoretical frameworks in brief page 216-226 -- 13. Closing the loop page 227-236