This book includes 30 essays by black women college administrators and faculty. The essays explore the thematic issues of identity, power, and change and examining the impact of racism and sexism in institutions of higher education. Essay authors come from both historically black and predominantly white institutions, public and private institutions, research and teaching institutions, coeducational and women's colleges, and from diverse disciplines, regions, and age strata. The volume consists of seven parts which address: (1) an overview of black women in the academy; (2) epistemological and ontological issues; (3) teaching and research issues for black women faculty; (4) black women administrators; (5) the social dynamics of academic life; (6) black women in diverse academic settings; and (7) the future of black women in higher education. Among the topics covered in the essays are: feminism for African American women; black women in the sciences; black women and the college music curriculum; insider and outsider discourse of African American women; African American nursing administrators; climbing the administrative ladder; African American women college presidents; the promotion, retention, and tenure process for African American women; collegiality; patriarchical meritocracy in the academy; student harassment of African American female faculty; and women's colleges. (Some papers contain references.) (LEE)