Black women remain underrepresented in higher education leadership roles, especially in the college presidency. Since the middle of the 20th century, women have emerged as leaders throughout every field of human endeavor; however, their rise to the college presidency remains slow and steady. The number of women college presidents has increased…

Despite the rising number of African American community college women executives that have joined the ranks in higher education, understandings factors that impact their career advancement is inadequate. Consistent case studies that examined the perception of African American women leaders in community colleges are limited. The purpose of this…

Black community college presidents are not exempt from racialized experiences as they promote equitable student success. This study explores the unique experiences of Black leaders who advocate for policies, practices, and procedures that promote equity and social justice at their institutions and in their communities. Together, applied critical…

My dissertation is unique and contributes to the academic literature because it explores the barriers that retired and current African American women face while pursuing and working in higher education leadership roles in Arkansas. Using a narrative inquiry design, I interviewed 17 retired and working leaders by asking them to share their personal…

The purpose of this study was to examine, understand, and interpret the lived experiences of four African American male university presidents. Through phenomenological interviewing (Seidman, 2006), and grounded in critical race methodology (Peoples, 2020), the participants detailed their lived experiences through their respective journeys in…

Structured from a qualitative research design, this meta-synthesis explored the lived experiences and perceptions women of color hold regarding their leadership within higher education. The purpose of the study was to generate understanding of said experiences and examine women of color leadership persistence within higher education, especially…

Higher education leadership is a highly important role that impacts many and can have far-reaching effects on those in the educational institute and beyond. These leadership positions are very demanding roles that require hard work, ingenuity, and insight. For this very reason, it is essential that positions of higher education leadership are…

The present study examined the perspectives of current administrators in higher education institutions on the mentorship and development of aspiring African American male administrators within higher education institutions. Selected participants were asked to complete a one hour and 30-minute semi-structured focus group interview. During this…

Black women make-up a large percentage of the workforce in higher education, specifically in administrative roles. Yet, while they enter higher education workspaces starting at entry-level and mid-manager positions, their numbers diminish significantly at executive levels. This imbalance between Black, female administrators in…

The topic of this study was Black female higher education executive leaders' cultural capital mentorship experiences and their social learning journey to senior positions. While Black females earn academic credentials at an increasing rate, the leadership ranks at higher education institutions are not proportionally representative of them. There…

The lived experiences of Black women senior housing officers have received little attention in research about diversity in campus housing. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are more than 6,000 colleges and universities in the United States, with 2,144 serving as residential campuses. However, what is still to be told…

In this qualitative study, the process followed by ten African-American Women to achieve success in higher education leadership was explored. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, the strategies used by these women can serve as a guide for other culturally diverse women who aspire to leadership roles in higher education administration or…

The role of the Black religious and spiritual life leader in higher education is to bring together social, political, spiritual, and educational leaders to help move an institution and the country forward (Faison, 2017). Forster-Smith (2013) compiled an exploration of religious and spiritual life leaders in American higher education. While it was…

Nationally, Black men graduate at 39% on six-year graduation rates at four-year, public institutions (NCES, 2022). Black men have experienced one of the lowest rates of success compared with students from other demographic populations (Black & Bimper, 2020), but these outcomes are related to underrepresentation, racial hostility, and social…

African American women's transformation into leadership positions in higher education has been a challenge. The negotiation of gender, race, and equality have complicated how women lead in educational institutions. In the reconstruction of leadership roles, males have been the dominant ones as observed through promotions, salary increases, and job…