Vocation as a Means of Expressing Spirituality ABSTRACT GHOSAL, LORI NERO. Vocation as a Means of Expressing Spirituality: A Life History Approach. (Under the direction of Barbara Sparks.) This life history study explores five individuals’ journey toward spiritual growth and vocation and the implications this has for adult and higher education. In-depth interviews enhanced self-reflection and new understanding of participants’ life courses, defining moments, influencing people and experiences, as well as obstacles to spiritual growth and vocational path. Three main themes were discussed: the understanding and experience of spirituality, the influences on spiritual pathways, and the awareness and process of vocation. Conclusions indicate spiritual growth as a maturation process through exposure to diversity, awareness of interconnections, and cognitive/emotional readiness through personal growth. Adult and higher education practitioners need to recognize the importance of spiritual development in the learning process, the role of informal and self- directed learning in the development of spirituality and understand how they can facilitate further growth. Vocation as a Means of Expressing Spirituality VOCATION AS A MEANS OF EXPRESSING SPIRITUALITY: A LIFE HISTORY APPROACH by LORI NERO GHOSAL A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education Higher Education Administration Raleigh 2004 APPROVED BY: ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ Chair of Advisory Committee Vocation as a Means of Expressing Spirituality ii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my Higher Power, whom I hope to have represented well. And to my daughter, Rani Marie, within whom this Higher Power is embodied. Rani, I am in awe of you. Vocation as a Means of Expressing Spirituality iii BIOGRAPHY Lori Nero Ghosal was born Lori Beth Nero, the third of four children to Frank R. Nero, Sr. and Suzanne E. Nero on December 16, 1961. She grew up in Williamsville, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. She attended the Williamsville public schools through high school. Her interest in the understanding of the human experience was formalized in her undergraduate studies at St. Bonaventure University. In 1984 she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a secondary concentration in Theology. Since then she has endeavored to marry psychology and spirituality through continued education and personal pursuit. Choosing to defer graduate school, she first began working in the human services field with at-risk teenagers. She then found her interest in human development focused in the educational sector through a career in educational publishing, first as a sales representative for an elementary and secondary school product line, then in product development management. In 1994 Lori returned to graduate school to receive a Master of Science degree from the State University of New York College at Buffalo in Student Personnel Administration, with a secondary concentration in Counseling. She subsequently secured a position at the college working directly with at-risk students in Student Support Services, a federally funded TRIO program. In 1998 she relocated to the Triangle area in North Carolina and secured the position of project manager for an educational test development company. Wishing to merge her business and student services careers, she enrolled in North Carolina State University’s Adult and Community College Education program to complete her doctoral Vocation as a Means of Expressing Spirituality iv degree in Higher Education Administration with a secondary concentration in Counseling. In the fall of 2000, she joined the National Initiative for Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness (NILIE) under the direction of Dr. George A. Baker, III in the Adult and Community College Education department at NC State University. As Director of Research, she had the opportunity to lead other graduate students in research on institutional effectiveness. Always striving for the truth and optimism for the human condition, she found her interests in psychology, counseling, and spirituality all combined in her chosen doctoral thesis. In 2001she married Kanchan Ghosal, a NC State University alumni and an Indian national. In blending a two-faith tradition household, they celebrated their union in both Hindu and Christian wedding ceremonies. They welcomed Rani Marie into their family November 21, 2003. Vocation as a Means of Expressing Spirituality v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would first like to acknowledge the participants in this study, without whom this work could not have been done: Carol, Lenore, David, Cheryl, and Dee. Thank you all for sharing your personal life stories with me. I have learned a great deal from you. I would like to thank my advisor and mentor, Dr. Barbara Sparks, who continued to support me and my work long distance. Because of your expectation of excellence and nudging for deeper insights, this work is far more complete than it would have been without you. Thanks also to my committee: Dr. S. Raymond Ting, Dr. Conrad Glass, Jr., and Dr. Colleen Aalsburg Wiessner for their participation on my committee and valued insights into this project. I would also like to thank the late Dr. Valerie-Lee Chapman for her selfless support and encouragement to me during the last year of her life. I would also like to acknowledge my colleagues and friends Pam Carpenter, Dawn Crotty, and Debbie Reno, who were kind enough to put me in touch with such interesting and spiritual people and for the countless discussions along spiritual topics, helping me formulate my seminal thoughts. I would also like to acknowledge the support from R. Chris Speck and Shannon Johnson for giving me editorial insights and advice, and Sharon Patton for transcribing the interviews for me. I would also like to thank Dr. George A. Baker, III for his belief in me and continued support in providing me with the opportunity to work with The National Initiative for Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness. Through my association with NILIE and Dawn Crotty, Dr. George Baker, the entire NILIE team, Dr. Leila Gonzalez Sullivan, and Dr. Carol Kasworm, I was provided the support and encouragement to Vocation as a Means of Expressing Spirituality vi continue my research while benefiting from the association with a prestigious initiative in the department of Adult and Community College Education. Special thanks to my family, especially my mother, Suzanne Nero who instilled and nurtured in me a hunger for the spiritual and my father, Frank Nero, Sr., who gave me the precious gift of unfailing belief in me. Thanks also to my extended family and close friends for all their positive influences on my life journey. We are all connected. And to my best friend, my grandmother, Marie Ebert, who has been gone from me these last 23 years but continues a presence of loving support. I miss you. Special thanks to my mother-in-law, Anjali Ghosal, who fed, held, and rocked my infant daughter for four and a half months so I could complete this work. Without your help, I may not have finished. Extra special thanks to my husband, Kanchan, who has stood by my side for the last five years with unconditional love and support. You have been a steadying rock to me especially during this last year of writing coinciding with my first year of motherhood. Your understanding and love know no bounds. Thank you for finding me. And to my dog, Moggy, who has laid at my feet for 14 years with absolute devotion. Finally to my precious daughter, Rani Marie, who has lived in my heart for my first 41 years, and sits in my lap today. Vocation as a Means of Expressing Spirituality vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES …………………………………………………………………….. xi LIST OF FIGURES …………………………………………………………………… xii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………… 1 Background and Statement of the Problem ………………………………………. 1 Purpose of the Study ……………………………………………………………… 3 Theoretical Framework …………………………………………………………… 4 Significance of the Issue ………………………………………………………….. 5 What is Spirituality? ……………………………………………………………… 7 Methodology ……………………………………………………………………… 9 Assumptions and Limitations …………………………………………………….. 11 Definition of Spirituality for this Study …………………………………………... 12 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND FRAMEWORK FOR THE STUDY ……………………………………………………………………. 14 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………….. 14 Influence of Psychology on the Study of Spirituality …………………………….. 15 Developmental Stage Theories of Spirituality ……………………………………. 18 Abraham Maslow’s Self Actualization Theory ………………………………. 18 James Fowler’s Faith Development Model …………………………………... 22 Socio-Cultural Model of Spirituality ……………………………………………… 28 Linda Myers’ et al. Optimal Theory …………………………………………... 28 Dimensional Models of Spirituality ……………………………………………….. 32 David Elkins’ et al. Humanistic-Phenomenological Spirituality ……………… 32 Elliott Ingersoll’s Dimensions of Spiritual Wellness …………………………. 34 Career Development Theories …………………………………………………….. 39 Spirituality in Work as Vocation ………………………………………………….. 42 Spirituality in the Workplace ………………………………………………….. 42 Spirituality in Work in Adult Education ………………………………………. 43 Conceptual Framework for the Study ……………………………………………… 53 Summary …………………………………………………………………………… 55 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ………………………………. 57 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………….