Characteristics of leadership styles and program development among African American males at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

If there is to be representation in which both college administration and faculty mirror the nation’s demographics, then it must be assured that Black males have equal opportunity for access and affordability to attain degree completion. Black male students interested in success have much to learn from Black men who have actually been successful. Leadership is an attitude, behavior, personality, and mind-set of bringing a group of people together to reach a common goal. Leadership is just one way to ensure competitiveness and progress in education, as well as in the units within higher educational institutions. The purpose of this study is to compare the transformational, transactional, servant-leader, and visionary leadership characteristics of five African American male senior administrators and the common characteristics that have made the programs they have developed a success at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This qualitative research is an analysis of African American male leaders at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the impact of their leadership on the institution. The research specifically identifies five African American males who have been employed with the University of Illinois for at least twenty years and have held senior administrative positions. The findings seek to understand how these African American males developed valued programs at the institution. The quotes within the findings were used in an attempt to provide a more detailed picture of the participant’s lived experiences