Campus Location
Dallas Campus (Online)
Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Department
Organizational Leadership
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Committee Chair or Primary Advisor
Linda Wilson-Jones
Second Committee Member or Secondary Advisor
C. Dean Campbell
Third Committee Member or Committee Reader
Bryan Patterson
Abstract
Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have faced persistent challenges retaining qualified faculty and staff, threatening the environments they are uniquely positioned to create. High turnover, limited professional development, and inadequate support undermine employee well-being and student outcomes. This qualitative phenomenological study explored senior-level administrators’ perceptions of deliberately developmental organization (DDO) principles and their relevance to employee retention at HBCUs. Guided by DDO and organizational culture theory, the study examined how leadership practices, professional development, psychological safety, and organizational culture intersect with retention and belonging. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with participants across diverse HBCU contexts. Participants were selected using purposeful criterion sampling based on involvement in retention initiatives. Transcripts were analyzed using phenomenological reduction with cross-case synthesis to identify patterns. Five themes emerged, including relational retention, informal development, inconsistent psychological safety, survival conditions, and partial DDO alignment. Findings indicated relational leadership served as the primary stabilizing force, compensating for limited infrastructure. Professional development occurred through proximity to supportive leaders, while psychological safety existed in relational pockets. Findings suggested DDO-aligned practices were present but operated informally and unevenly, constrained by resource scarcity and limited structural support. Implications for leadership practice and institutional design were discussed.
Creative Commons License
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Recommended Citation
Taylor, Caprinia L., "Senior-Level Administrators’ Perceptions of Deliberately Developmental Organization Principles and Employee Retention at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)" (2026). Digital Commons @ ACU, Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1026.
https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/etd/1026