Navigating to the Top: Career Success Experiences of Black Women Senior Leaders in Higher Education

The career advancement for Black women in higher education is not the same as their counterparts. Gender equity practices fail to challenge homogenous professional communities limiting how race and gender influence leadership advancement for Black women career trajectories. Black women who occupy positions of institutional influence and authority as senior leaders have largely been overlooked in in higher education research. Using a qualitative exploratory approach, this multiple case study explored the lived experiences of 10 Black women presently working in senior leadership roles in four-year public institutions of higher learning. This study sought to contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors that shape career advancement and identify strategies significant to the ascension journey for those who aspire to lead. Exploring diverse leadership experiences is valuable to providing a balanced perspective of being a senior leader and Black woman in higher education