Examining the Relationship between Interactions with Diverse Faculty and Students’ Racial Identity and Ideological Development

• In Event: 29.042 - Diversity in the Academy

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between faculty factors(demographics and behaviors) and students’ ideology and identity development, and how the relationships vary by racial group, for students of color. Our findings confirm the importance of faculty of color in the personal and academic development of students of color. Students of color tend to choose to enroll in courses taught by instructors of their same race/ethnicity, and this alignment highlights their racial identity centrality and nationalist ideology; this effect is particularly salient for Black students. Conversely, when students of color are taught by White instructors, their racial identity development becomes less salient. We provide directions for future research and implications for practice.

Authors

• Kadian McIntosh, The University of Arizona

• Hyun Kyoung Ro

• Karla I Loya, University of Virginia