"I Need More Agency To Do This Work:" The Organizational Commitments Necessary for Equity-Oriented Change

• In Event: Conditions for Change: Organizational Accountability, Reform, and Commitment in Higher Ed

Abstract

Through a multi-sited case-study with 10 individuals leading racial equity work, we examine the organizational conditions that support or hinder what actors can do to effectively implement strategies seeking to improve the conditions and outcomes for minoritized students. We draw on observations, interviews, and institutional artifacts and use Ray’s Theory of Racialized Organizations (2019) and Hirschman’s (1970) Exit, Voice, and Loyalty model, to interrogate how equity leaders navigate institutional structures, exercise agency, sustain momentum for transformation, and leave these roles if rhetoric doesn’t match their reality. Our study offers theoretical insights and practical guidance for creating conditions that enable transformative equity efforts, urging institutions to move beyond symbolic commitments and structurally support the individuals driving racial equity in higher education.

Authors

• Eric R. Felix, San Diego State University

• Angel D. Gonzalez, California State University - Fresno

• Leslie Gomez, San Diego State University