The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how the organizational culture on southern predominantly white institutional campuses influences the inclusiveness, belonging, and lived experiences of Black womxn at different levels of the organization hierarchy. The study results showed that experiences surrounding institutional culture,…

Higher education has long known the many challenges facing Black students at predominantly White institutions (PWIs) leading to lower Black student retention rates relative to their White peers. One factor contributing to retention rates among Black students at PWIs is their sense of belonging. There are many factors that contribute to a sense of…

For nearly 60 years, doctoral student attrition has been a cause for concern (Berelson, 1960; Council of Graduate Schools, 2010; 2015). Studies have shown that approximately 40-70% of doctoral students do not finish their degree, and 20% of those who advance to candidacy do not complete the dissertation phase (Lovelace, 2016). Additionally,…

Narratives of isolation and marginalization are consistent elements of the experiences of Black people in higher education, regardless of positions and roles (Anthym & Tuitt, 2019; Chesler & Crowfoot, 1989; Stewart, 2018-2019). The purpose of this narrative study is to explore how participation in Black affinity groups influenced Black…

The purpose of this study was to explore the unique experiences that Black women student leaders, at a historically White institution located in the Deep Southern region of the United States, described as contributing to their sense of belonging on campus. In this study, I used an asset-based approach to understand how five Black women, all…