This phenomenological study aimed to explore the lived experiences of African American staff administrators who hold non-academic administrative positions at a Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) situated in the southwestern region of the United States. Employing a phenomenological approach and purposeful sampling, the study involved conducting in-depth interviews with eight participants. These interviews delved into various aspects, including their past racial experiences, perceptions of how they established a sense of belonging within the institution, and their past approaches to assimilating into the cultural, normative, and environmental aspects of the HSI. The study was guided by two conceptual frameworks: Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality. Its primary objectives included uncovering the challenges that African Americans faced in the HSI setting, examining the strategies employed by African American staff administrators to persevere in such an environment, and exploring their perspectives on institutional efforts related to combating systemic oppression through initiatives centered on diversity, equity, and inclusion. For this research, a purposive selection method was employed to initially identify eight African American staff administrators as participants. Additionally, snowball sampling techniques were used to recruit additional participants as required. Several strategies were implemented to ensure the academic rigor and credibility of the study, including methodological congruence, triangulation, incorporation of detailed descriptions, and verbatim transcription. Subsequently, the collected data underwent systematic coding and analysis, with the objective of identifying recurring patterns and themes that could articulate the essence of the lived experiences of the participants through a process known as horizontalization. The study's findings aimed to contribute to a deeper understanding of the intricate nature of the participants' lived experiences and shed light on how the HSI environment contributed to their past sense of belonging. [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://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]