Campus Location

Dallas Campus (Online)

Date of Award

3-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Department

Organizational Leadership

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Committee Chair or Primary Advisor

Jennifer Butcher

Second Committee Member or Secondary Advisor

Dianne Reed

Third Committee Member or Committee Reader

Richard Phillips

Abstract

This study looked at what Black women in high‑level leadership roles are experiencing at predominantly White institutions in Texas and Florida now that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies have been rolled back. Using Black feminist theory and intersectionality as the foundation, the research focused on how race and gender shape their leadership, their decision‑making, and the ways they navigate their careers. Through in‑depth interviews with 10 Black women in executive positions, the study uses a narrative approach to understand their stories. Eight major themes emerged, and many participants explained that losing DEI initiatives created new obstacles, reduced support systems, and forced them to adjust their leadership styles in environments that felt increasingly restrictive. Even with these challenges, the women showed resilience, agency, and a strong commitment to supporting marginalized students and colleagues. The study adds to existing research by centering the lived experiences of Black women leaders during a time of political and institutional change.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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