Precarious Positions: The Experiences of Adjunct Black, Indigenous Faculty of Color

• In Event: Understanding Experiences of Minoritized Contingent Faculty

Abstract

Using critical race theory (CRT), this qualitative study examines the racialized, interpersonal experiences of eight adjunct BIFOC at a research university. The concentration of adjunct Black, Indigneous faculty of color (BIFOC) in the lowest rungs of higher education’s teaching class puts them in a precarious position. Major themes include intersectionality, gender bias, and academic gatekeeping. Informal networks among adjunct BIFOC surface as sources of agency that empower adjunct BIFOC to navigate the environment.

Authors

• Leah Fulton, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

• Tania D. Mitchell, University of Minnesota