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 from 9.5% to 30% since 1986; there is still a long way to go to ensure gender and racial parity in higher education leadership. This phenomenological study examined the challenges and lived experiences of four Black women college presidents leading at private Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]