An Examination of Factors Impacting the Career Decisions of Black Women in Management Positions at US Institutions of Higher Education

摘要

Research during the last decade indicates that while Black women have been graduating from college and entering the academic workforce at increasing rates, they continue to be underrepresented in managerial and administrative positions at institutions of higher education. As colleges and universities in the United States face demands to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse society, educational leaders will need to find ways to address the opportunity for diverse leadership growth. One strategy to address this opportunity is to identify the personal and professional factors that influence the career choices of Black women who work at institutions of higher education. This study identified and examined the internal career anchors that impact the career decisions of Black women who work in management positions at institutions of higher education in the US. The findings of the study suggest that Schein’s (1990) eight career anchors were present among participants, with security/stability appearing as the most dominant anchor.