<p> With institutional importance placed on diversity in higher education, considerable research has been conducted regarding the experiences of African Americans at predominantly White institutions. However, the focus has been limited regarding African American administrators in higher education (Jackson, 2004; Allen, 2000; Weems, 2003). The purpose of this study is to understand and further explore how African American Male Student Affairs Administrators (AAMSAAs) perceive their day-to-day experiences and relationships at predominantly White institutions (PWI). Using basic qualitative research methods and an interview protocol developed from the conceptual frameworks of Herzberg (1964), Cose (1993) and Kanter (1977), 22 African American male student affairs administrators were asked to describe their professional experiences at PWIs including their attitudes on professional development, the motivating and de-motivating factors in the work place, conditions for success, and the realities of being underrepresented and often tokenized professionals at PWIs. The words shared by participants attributed to their own experiences and provided insight into this phenomenon. Participants reported overall being satisfied in their career choice despite expressing several challenges in their work environment including professional stereotypes that limited individuality, high performance pressure relative to their White peers, isolation as numerical minorities, and the existence of few African American male role models. Despite these challenges, participants found motivation through student engagement, increasing responsibility or advancement, strength through faith and spirituality, and leveraging the limited opportunities with supervisors and mentors of color. Implications for this research are to help student affairs administrators and other leaders at PWIs better understand the issues that may impede the success of African American male student affairs professionals and help campuses consider methods for recruitment and support of African American males.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:3617187 |
| Date | 03 June 2014 |
| Creators | Surratt, David Alan |
| Publisher | The George Washington University |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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