Leaving or Liberation: Exploring the Experiences of Black Student Affairs Professionals

• In Event: AERA Research in Progress Roundtable Session Four
  In Invited Roundtable: Research-in-Progress RT035 (Saturday)

Abstract

This study examines the racialized experiences of Black student affairs professionals (SA Pros) and the organizational conditions that contribute to their attrition from higher education institutions. Guided by Black Feminist Thought and Ray’s Theory of Racialized Organizations, the study employed transcendental phenomenology to explore how Black SA Pros experience cultural taxation, navigate tokenization, stereotypes, and microaggressions. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 11 Black SA Pros in the California State University system. Preliminary findings highlight identity, racism, the Black Tax, and community. Findings will contribute to understanding racial equity and organizational practices to better support and retain Black SA Pros.

Author

• Terri Armstrong, California State University - Long Beach