Rooted in Resistance, Raised in Legacy: Black Women Students Leading at Hispanic Serving Institutions

• In Event: The Wages of Blackness: Black Women and Women of Color in the Academy

Abstract

Black women undergraduate student leaders at Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) navigate a complex intersection of race, gender, and institutional dynamics as they develop their leadership identities. Guided by Black Feminist Thought and the Leadership Identity Development model, this qualitative study explores the experiences of seven Black women student leaders at California HSIs. Through narrative inquiry, findings reveal three themes: (1) leading through resistance and visibility, (2) balancing emotional labor and identity shifting, and (3) cultivating community and generativity. These stories highlight how participants build legacy, resilience, and advocacy amid exclusionary structures. This study urges HSIs to affirm Black women's intersecting identities and reimagine leadership development to foster inclusive, supportive, and transformative environments for Black women leaders.

Author

• Shanelle A Watkins, University of California - San Diego