The journey of Black women into senior leadership roles within higher education institutions is characterized by a complex interplay of personal and professional realms shaped by the intersecting forces of racism and sexism. This dissertation examined the lived experiences of these trailblazing leaders, revealing the systemic barriers they…

There is a significant gap in the number of women who go into college as computer science majors and decide to pursue the field in the workforce. There are challenges present for female students since the start of their education that their male counterparts do not face, which ultimately contributes to this gender gap. Such challenges include a…

Despite efforts to attract Black women in the professoriate, higher education has historically excluded marginalized populations, specifically Black women. This qualitative case study investigated the problem of insufficient representation of tenured Black women in the academy at Historically White Colleges and Universities (HWCUs). Additionally,…

Women make up the majority of students enrolled in colleges and universities and positively contribute to higher education in various areas. However, despite their academic contributions, women remain underrepresented as critical decision-makers within higher education leadership. Fewer than half of the senior-level leaders in higher education are…

This qualitative study of a sample of 13 female school business officials in the southeastern region of New York offers evidence that female school business officials perceive the presence of gender bias and stereotyping in their profession. The study's findings align with Acker's (1990, 1992a) theoretical assertion that gender inequality is…

Today, women remain underrepresented at the top levels of higher education administration, despite the fact that they are earning more advanced degrees at a faster pace than men (ACE, 2017). At the community college level, women have held and continue to hold the positions of department chairs, deans, assistant deans, directors, vice or associate…

This qualitative research study explored how the lifelong narrative identities of women educational leaders within the context of power structures have shaped the leaders they are today. Through narrative inquiry methodology and theoretical frameworks of narrative identity and feminist poststructuralism, six executive-level women leaders in the…

Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.- James BaldwinBlack women have always been in the forefront leading change and supporting the attainment of education in the academy. They have been the greatest hidden figures. This study strives to nuance the experiences of Black women presidents at…

Faculty of color can experience an array of challenges during their professional journey in higher education. When gender and race intersect, additional injustices are experienced by faculty of color who identify as women. The research available draws attention to the discrimination, exploitation, and isolation faced by female faculty of color…

North Carolina has a long history of women in leadership positions and at the forefront of education. The women of North Carolina have been dedicated to the pursuit of equity in both leadership and education. This study provides in-depth experience of North Carolina Community College female presidents, understanding their involvement in being a…

This dissertation explores the internal cultures of (14) United States higher education boards from the perspectives of (18) Women of Color trustees. Guided by Critical Race Feminism, Intersectionality, and Organizational Culture Theory, the author develops a framework to study the impact of race "and" gender on historically…

Black womxn mid-level administrators in student affairs are DOPE! However, limited research examines our lived experience and voice at the intersection of race, gender, and organizational status. This qualitative research study uses Sista Circle Methodology to investigate the challenges of this population at Historically White Institutions.…

The purpose of this research study was to explore the strategies African American women use to navigate systemic barriers faced in academia in order to attain and retain higher education positions at the level of academic dean and higher. A narrative inquiry approach was taken using Black feminist theory to explore this phenomenon. A total of…

Experiences of Black women in college are often lost in conversations about college students. Although underrepresented students are highly researched, the focus is usually on Black males and White females. This research identifies the obstacles encountered by Black women at predominately white institutions on their pursuit of a college degree,…

Success in STEM-based fields provides a path to highly regarded and powerful positions in society. Hegemonic structures of society have excluded women and other non-hegemonic groups from these fields and from recognition in these fields. Between 1903 and 2018 the Nobel Prize for Physics was awarded 113 times to 212 individuals. Marie Curie was…