This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of Black women employed in senior-level Division I NCAA football bowl subdivision (FBS) intercollegiate athletic administration. The study answers two research questions to understand how Black women in FBS athletics perceive their intersecting identities as influencing their career experiences…

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…

Background/Context: Progressive human resources thinking has suggested the importance of employee experiences for workforce engagement, inclusion, and retention, but the intentional design of positive employee experiences requires a deep understanding of workers' lived experiences in order to respond to their differentiated needs. Although the…

This study utilized a basic qualitative design and Burns's transformational leadership theory, Crenshaw's intersectionality theory, and Collins's Black feminist theory to examine African American women in senior academic leadership positions at predominantly White institutions (PWIs) who have experienced gender, racial, and/or organizational bias…

African-American women face substantial career barriers when seeking ascension to educational leadership. Numerous factors contribute to career advancement barriers, such as systemic, institutional challenges, organizational factors, personality, and individual contributors. Various systemic and managerial aspects, directly and indirectly, were…

African Americans have faced many challenges in higher education over the course of time, especially in leadership at Predominately White Institutions. To increase the ability for minorities to service is prominent positions Diversity, equity, and inclusion must be present. When comparing the percentage of race and gender leadership positions such…

While the racial and ethnic diversity of the United States of America's overall population (especially the college student population) are expanding at unprecedented levels, the leadership within higher education's Ivory Tower has remained consistent for the past 300 years. At the highest levels, leadership remains largely monolithic -- this is…

This research study was designed to add to the existing but limited literature that explores perceived barriers and challenges African-American women superintendents experienced while ascending and serving in the superintendency. According to the literature, African-American women are underrepresented in the role of public school superintendents.…

This study evaluated the phenomenon of anti-Black womanism in enrollment management at Historically White Institutions (HWIs) for Black women professionals. The qualitative study was conducted to understand dialectical functions of enrollment management and the dialectical responsibilities that Black women have while working in enrollment…

Using intersectionality theory, the article presents constructions of successful leadership by three Black women school principals in three different contexts: England, South Africa and the United States. The article is premised on the overall shortage of literature on Black women in educational leadership, which leaves Black women's experiences…

Gender, race, and class--intertwining oppressions experienced by Black women have ultimately led to barriers such as marginality, exploitation, political subjugation, and negative images of African American women (Collins, 2009). Research about the lived experiences of Black women has either been infrequently told or narrated by individuals who…

The primary purpose of this study was to describe and explore, through interviews, how African American female principals sustain and maintain authority. This study investigated what it takes to become the authority, and how to reinforce authority and ensure that authority is understood, in administrative level school leadership positions where…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of the personal, professional, and sociocultural experiences of ten African American female school leaders serving as assistant principals, principals, and central office administrators in four suburban school districts in the southeast region of the…

While all educational leaders face challenges in achieving success, African American female principals often face a unique set of challenges associated with the complexity of their gender, race, and, as examined in this study, age. This case study investigates the experiences of two highly visible, early career African American female principals…

This narrative study explored the personal and professional experiences of eight African American women vice presidents for student affairs (VPSA) employed at predominately White institutions (PWIs) and the persistence strategies they used while working at a PWI. Through the use of narrative inquiry methods, I utilized a purposeful sample of eight…