Mid-level administrators are underrepresented within the literature despite years of research on university administration. Moreover, there is significantly less knowledge about administrators of color in higher education. While the reason for their decreased prominence is unclear, Jackson and O'Callaghan (2009) offer that people of color were historically not part of the leadership landscape as an explanation for the minimal formal analysis and categorization of them and their work. Despite the surge of research interest in Black administrators, there still remains limited knowledge about who they are, their professional lives, and their overall lived experiences. As such, the purpose of this study was to understand the career journeys and the experiences of Black mid-level student affairs administrators (BMLSAAs) as they navigate transitions and advancements within their careers.
Guided by a conceptual framework using tenets of Critical Race Theory, Space and Place, and the Great Migration, this study investigated the following questions: (1) What are the career migration patterns of BMLSAAs? (2) What role does race and racism combined with location play in the career journeys of BMLSAAs? (3) How do BMLSAAs make meaning of their career journey and their experiences? I employed a qualitatively driven multimethod research design consisting of narrative inquiry and a Critical Race Spatial Analysis (CRSA) with a sample size of 11 BMLSAAs across the U.S. Data sources included a demographic questionnaire, documents (i.e., current resume/curriculum vitae), a career journey map, and a semi-structured interview.
Findings provided insight into the racialized engagement of spatial features throughout participants' career journeys; on the campuses where they worked and the geographic regions where participants have lived. Ultimately findings expressed what it is like being Black not only in a mid-level student affairs administrative role, but also traversing one's career as a Black person. Additionally, this study has implications for research, practice, and policy. / Doctor of Philosophy / As a whole, middle managers in higher education are underrepresented in university research. There is even less knowledge about administrative leaders of color in higher education because they have been historically excluded from those roles. Despite an increase of interest in researching Black administrators, there still remains limited knowledge about who they are, their professional lives, and their overall lived experiences. As a result, the purpose of this study was to understand the career journeys experiences of Black administrative leaders, specifically those in middle management who are employed in student affairs departments.
Through interviews and map making, this study explored patterns within Black mid-level student affairs administrators (BMLSAAs) career moves; the role that race and racism combined with location played within their careers; and how BLMSAAs made sense of their career journey experiences. Findings provided insight into what shaped participants' careers; how they navigated their careers; their career related experiences; and how they thought about the futures of their careers. Findings also illuminated participants' racialized experiences navigating campus organization structures; work cultures and environments; and living in the different geographic regions where they were employed. This study has an impact on higher education employment research, professional practice, and policy.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/112808 |
| Date | 06 December 2022 |
| Creators | Pete, Kendall Kreshon |
| Contributors | Higher Education, Lane, Tonisha B., Bohannon, C. L., Robbins, Claire K., Bondy, Jennifer M. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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