This action research project centers the narratives of women and nonbinary students of color as they navigate leadership roles within student government at Ivy League institutions. The overarching aim of the project is to develop an understanding of the barriers to participation for women and nonbinary students of color and collaboratively identify supports to enhance their experiences. Grounded in intersectional, critical race feminist theory, this study provides context to understand the barriers to women and nonbinary students of color's involvement in student government and highlights their encounters with gendered racism within these historically White institutions. Participants' narratives reveal the ways in which women and nonbinary students of color are perceived and perceive the inhospitable climate of student government associations and their relationships with peers, staff, faculty, and the media. Participants and data collected in Cycle 1 consisted of 10 semi-structured interviews, a site observation, and a focus group. For the Cycle 2 action step, women and nonbinary students of color participated in a Transformational Leadership Institute, the impact of which was evaluated through the completion of surveys, along with the interviews of 4 attendees and 2 collaborators. Implications for organizations seeking to support women and nonbinary students of color include the need for additional support structures and enhanced leadership training. [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.]