Exploring the Lived Experiences of Black Faculty From Select Community Colleges Within the North Carolina Community College System
Abstract
In October 2022, the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) dashboard reported 5,266 full-time White faculty and 714 Black faculty. Only 10% of full-time curriculum instructors were Black, whereas 82% were White (Admin, 2019). Since Black faculty are underrepresented, their voices are often unheard. This qualitative research described the lived experiences of Black faculty at select North Carolina community colleges. The study examined the narratives of thirteen currently employed and retired Black community college faculty members using interpretive phenomenology. Critical Race Theory in Education (CRTE) was used as the lens to code and analyze data, revealing 10 themes: (a) recognition of expertise by others, (b) paternalistic and siloed mindsets, (c) being a role model, (d) responsive to student and faculty needs, (e) access to educational trainings, (f) work is priority, (g) marginalized yet resilient, (h) implementing faculty-specific investment programs, (i) having an academic mentor, and (j) networking. Participants were recruited and selected through the Eastern North Carolina National Council on Black American Affairs (ENCNCBAA) using purposive and snowball sampling methods. Semi-structured Zoom interviews were conducted with open-ended questions about their academic experiences, obstacles, and successes. The investigation also solicited ideas on community college Black faculty recruitment and retention techniques. This study aimed to increase awareness and insight into the experiences of Black faculty at select community colleges in North Carolina to advance the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of these and other institutions of higher learning, and to improve the college environment and overall work experience.
Subject Area
Community college education|Higher education|Educational administration|Educational leadership
Recommended Citation
Holder, Valentina, "Exploring the Lived Experiences of Black Faculty From Select Community Colleges Within the North Carolina Community College System" (2023). ETD Collection for Fayetteville State University. AAI30695323.
https://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/dissertations/AAI30695323