Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Education

Abstract

The lived experiences of African American Senior Student Affairs Officers has been riddled with systemic racism, sexism, and unrealistic expectations. Research has shown that there is value in intentional recognition of the intersection of their identities, identifying support mechanisms, and providing adequate resources for the women to be successful. This study aims to determine the unique experiences of each woman not only within their careers, but also from childhood. Poignantly asking about the span of their lived experiences, but also strategies used in climbing to and surviving in senior student affairs leadership positions? Senior Student Affairs Officers (SSAOs) are defined as the senior most leader at the institution that oversees all or the majority of student life outside the classroom. Utilizing Black Feminist Thought and the N.O.B.L.E Model, coined by Dr. Kandace Hinton provided the foundation to understand African American women and how they view the world and the experiences that lead them to their current role. The seven female participants represented large, small, public, private, research focused, community college, and historically Black colleges and universities. The results of this study indicated that African American women in these roles experience racism, sexism, suffer from unhealthy coping habits, and have to work twice as hard to be acknowledge for the work they do on campus, if there is acknowledgement at all. It is recommended that African American women currently in the roles or moving into the roles establish safeguards to protect their mental and physical health, seek out and establish a supportive base, and ensure that the institution can support them financially as well as in their professional realm.

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