Resilience in Leaders of Color in Higher Education (Poster 14)

• In Event: Division D Graduate Student Committee In-Progress Research Gala Poster Session

Abstract

This qualitative study explores how leaders of color in higher education cultivate resilience amid systemic challenges and the strategies they use to overcome adversity. Using Charmaz’s Constructivist Grounded Theory (CGT), this research study investigates personal, cultural, and institutional factors shaping resilience as a dynamic process rooted in lived experiences. CGT’s co-constructive approach amplifies these leaders’ voices, uncovering how they interpret, adapt to, and find meaning in setbacks. Through interviews and artifact analysis, the study identifies key elements of resilience, such as vulnerability, radical love, and gratitude. It provides insights to help institutions support leaders while equipping emerging leaders to thrive.

Author

• Dulce Elizabeth Caldino DeNovellis, University of San Diego