Drawing from an intersectionality framework, we studied political engagement among undergraduate women of Color. Using multi-institutional data, we examined how women students' race/ethnicity and community service and service learning experiences related to involvement in political campaigns, political efficacy, and voting in the 2016 presidential…

Although conceptual models exist that describe the role of counterspaces in promoting well-being among marginalised individuals, not enough is known about the composition of professional counterspaces for Black women employed in higher education. The African American Women's Summit (AAWS) is a national professional development programme in the…

Black women have made tremendous progress in higher education. However, despite increases in enrollment and graduation, research regarding Black women's experiences in senior-level positions in the student affairs field is limited. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of seven Black women in senior-level positions…

Contemporary literature regarding the experiences of Black women in higher education administration is scarce, and that which does exist, often focuses on those who serve in teaching faculty roles, and/or fails to provide a holistic perspective on the lives of those who makeup this group. Utilizing an interpretative phenomenological analysis…

Sexual and racial/ethnic minority women may experience a number of unique barriers to disclosing experiences of campus sexual violence. To better understand these barriers, 5,911 online campus climate surveys were collected at a mid-Atlantic university. Analysis indicated some significant differences by race, ethnicity, and sexual identity. These…

Colleges and universities looking to reduce cost often use non-tenure track instructional staff. One understudied group within the literature of non-tenure track instructional staff includes higher education and student affairs administrators who teach classes alongside their non-academic administrative work. This study leveraged critical race…

This article aims to illuminate the transcendent relevance of Patricia Hill Collins' Black feminist thought (BFT) by explicating the role the theory plays in grounding the work of a student affairs faculty member. The criticality of culturally responsive practice is highlighted by centering the ways an intentionally Black feminist consciousness…

The African American Women's Summit (AAWS) is a professional development program in the United States created by and for African American women in student affairs. This article reviews the evolution and structure of the AAWS. A discussion, grounded in Black feminist thought, is included relative to the impact of the AAWS on African American women…

According to the American Council on Education (2007) the growth of women in leadership positions in higher education has been slow and has not taken place consistently at different types of higher education institutions. Women in higher education leadership positions have increased, but still lag behind men in their rate of advancement to the…

Given that individual and institutional characteristics are suggested to work collectively in promoting optimal student success, the purpose of this quantitative study was to understand factors that contribute to the success of Black college women at predominantly White institutions (PWIs). Of particular interest was the relationship between…

The image of a master's degree student in a student affairs preparation program (SAPP) is not likely a woman over 30 with children. This constructivist qualitative study explored the deficits faced and navigation strategies of 13 non-traditional-aged women from two SAPPs to improve program access, recruitment, experiences, and retention. The…

This dissertation examines the job satisfaction of mid to high level female student affairs administrators within higher education institutions in the United States. The study investigates factors related to job satisfaction as identified through Kalleberg's theory on intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and theories on mentorship and sponsorship as…

This study examined career paths to becoming the Senior Student Affairs Officer for men (n = 151) and women (n = 99) at 4-year institutions. Descriptive statistics and network analysis of resume data revealed that an average of 20 years and six job changes led to the position. Most started careers in residential life or student activities,…

A cohort of 15 participants was chosen to engage in a study to identify a relationship between personality type and the propensity to choose professions in student affairs. Participants were chosen based upon specific demographic criteria in an effort to highlight inconsistencies in traditionally accepted variables, including gender, ethnicity,…

Since career networks offer access to upper level positions, being a part of one can offer opportunities and access to information, knowledge and referrals for career mobility. However, the duality of race and gender can create a distinctive challenge to gaining access to career networks, which are crucial components to rise to the upper level of…