Setting It Off: From Individual Scholars to Collective Sisterhood Among Five Women of Color in the Academy

• In Event: Setting It Off: From Individual Scholars to Collective Sisterhood Among Five Women of Color in the Academy

Abstract

OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION

This workshop will engage in dialogue about the importance of considering both disciplinary differences as well as intersectionality when conducting research as women of color in the academy. For the purpose of this session, we will focus primarily on the individual experiences, trajectories, and focus of expertise, while holding each other accountable via peer mentorship. Women’s underrepresentation as tenured and full professors in turn limits their opportunities to advance into formal leadership
positions at colleges and universities. It is therefore not surprising that men outnumber women even among newly appointed deans, provosts, and presidents (Hammond, 2015). Further, women of color in educational leadership positions continue to reflect the
lack of intellectual, racial and ethnic diversity in higher education.

In addition, the interactive nature of this workshop is designed to jumpstart the formation of a scholarly community within AERA that is focused specifically on issues of gender, intersectionality, and disciplinarily within education. The workshop will focus
especially on the experiences of five scholars of color approaches that are best-suited for examining accountability, mentoring, and self-care, whilst focusing on their respective
scholarship and journeys through the academy.




SCHOLARLY AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE



While disciplinary associations in educational leadership often have special interest groups that focus on women’s representation, a social scientific perspective is often lacking from such conversations. The workshop panel will focus on taking the lead in bringing together interested scholars in a purposeful discussion what our larger aims might be beyond the workshop session. Further, if the workshop is accepted, we will reach out to our AERA colleagues to encourage their participation in this session.
This workshop proposal includes presenters, which will share the journey of women in educational leadership. Each of these experiences will expose the roles of each scholar’s individual experience and perspective, while addressing how education research can recognize the perspectives and knowledge of such a historically marginalized groups.

Authors

• Soribel Genao, Queens College

• Rosa L. Rivera-McCutchen, Lehman College - CUNY

• Linda C. Tillman

• Terri Nicol Watson, City College of New York - CUNY

• Sonya Douglass Horsford, Teachers College, Columbia University