Improving higher education attainment among African American women (original) (raw)
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Voices of Success: Exploring Black Male Students’ Perspectives on Their Academic Success
2020
To my peer reviewer, colleague and friend, Dr. J. Michael Denton, thank you for your standards of excellence. Your review, transparency, recommendations, and guidance, helped me to get to the finish line. I greatly appreciate the generous volunteering of your time and expertise, and I express my genuine gratitude for your contributions and support. There were several leaders and colleagues who supported my doctoral journey. I would like to thank Dr. Paul Dosal for supporting and encouraging me to pursue and complete this degree. I was "Dr. Goldsmith" before actually becoming "Dr. Goldsmith." That kept my goal in the forefront, thank you. I must thank my colleague and friend Risa Blake. You supported me quietly throughout the entire process, gently nudged me when I was challenged, and helped me to breathe differently when it was needed. I'm so very grateful for the gift of you. I must thank Lisa Adkins, for everything! A call or an email, and you responded immediately. Your support and guidance over these years made a significant impact, and I'm grateful. Lastly, I would like to thank a few of my USF colleagues who helped me to prepare for the final stage of this process, Drs. Monica Lee Miranda, Melissa Graham, and LaTosha Thomas. I'm blessed to have each of you in my life and I am honored to have shared an aspect of this journey with you.
The average black girl that I know had courage that surpassed her every fear…" (Johnson, 2015) This study is dedicated to the phenomenal African American women in search of a better life for themselves through the pursuit of education. This is also dedicated to the women in my study, who beyond all obstacles and challenges that life brings, continue to take care of themselves, their families and their communities by staying true to our ancestral heritage. I thank them for trusting me to tell their stories of challenge and triumph. I also thank them for reminding us that we RISE! Next, I dedicate this to my first teacher and role model, my mother Norma Ruth Stoker-Mtume. I watched her work 3 jobs and pursue her Bachelor's Degree while I was in junior high school. She then completed her Master's Degree when I was in 10 th grade amidst all of the challenges she faced. Her persistence and dedication lighted a fire in me that never dimmed. She continues to inspire me to greatness Finally, I dedicate this to my two African American girls, Khadijah Kharriem and Aaliyah Regine. I pray this makes you proud of mommy! Thank you for sacrificing so much of your time and energy to help me pursue my goal of the Ph.D. Thank you for always doing your best to make a difference in our world. May God continue to bless. Much Love vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for the opportunity to achieve this dream. I have been blessed with some of the most powerful African American Women to grace the earth as guides to my educational experience. My first schooling took place at Oakland Community School, run by the Black Panther Party There I not only learned to love me, but to love my people and to fight injustice. I also thank God for the motivation and financing of my paternal grandmother Glorya Jane Armour and my aunt Hilda J. Craddock who supported my educational goals through high school and into college and shared, often, there great expectations for me. My pursuit of the PhD began with my Master's degree practicum professor, Dr. Sharon Grant-Henry. I promised her I would one day "earn this PhD from a reputable university." Although she has left us here on earth, I know that she beams with pride as she looks into my life today. My first course with Dr. Joi A. Spencer led me to one of the most challenging and inspirational courses of my education; the reading coupled with the pregnancy were an interesting match made in heaven. However, it did so much more than that-it led me to my mentor and friend. Your belief in me, your patience with me, and your high expectations were phenomenally important as I pushed through this six-year journey. Thank you for always being there to encourage me. To my advisor in this program, Dr. Lea Hubbard, thank your for believing in the dream I had to powerfully share the voice of people of color and specifically that of African American women. I appreciate your insight and feedback into this process. Dr. Christopher Newman, I thank you for being a willing and important participant on this roller coaster ride. I appreciate your thoughtfulness, your viii encouragement and your constant insight into my topic and into my success as a student. Dr. Zachary Greene, I thank your for the course, Human Development. It was one of the most powerful examples of love and caring for other human beings that I have ever experienced. Dr. Karen Lee I could only dream of being able to teach with the knowledge and confidence that you exude in every of life. Thank you for constantly being there and for igniting the fire of quantitative data and analysis in me once again. The support of my Fall 2011 cohort was motivational and I am grateful for Mara, Jessica, Jenny, and Kathryn. Thank also to the professors that believed in me and encouraged me through this long process of personal growth and development. Finally to my family and friends who literally lifted me up in prayer through this journey. Mom Lorraine Henderson first called me "Doctor" 20 years ago and she and Joslynn Brookins were there to push me into my destiny. To my godmother Rev. Donna Edward for her spiritual guidance and support, to Bishop Terrell A. Fletcher for the friendly competition and support and to my mentor Pastor Eric Wilson for being there to push and support me and my husband every step of the way. To those who kept the baby while I wrote, Carla and Maurcell Gresham, Kayres and Carol Stockdale, Tita and James Mills, my grandmother Lurlene Stoker and countless others. Thank you village! To the best friends a girl could ever have, those that prove the #blackgirlmagic is real~ Dawn McNulty Watts, Yolanda Hunter, Yolanda Wooten Meade, Penny McNeil and the Spring 1989 Kiungo Line of the Nu Upsilon chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., thank you! Your love and motivation are life giving! Finally to my friend, my lover, the financier of my educational experience and the best father I could have ever asked to co-parent with, Andre Ramon Kirkendoll, thank you for your patience and love.
Advising African American Males: From the Advisor's Viewpoint
2019
I would like to dedicate my dissertation work to all the African American men in my personal life, both mentors, and students alike. Each of you have in some way deposited strength and motivation in my life at some point for me to achieve this goal. Because my dissertation speaks to African American males as the recipient of the services provided by academic advisors, it is only befitting that this dedication be given to every African American male that I have ever served as an academic advisor and higher education professional. I would also like to dedicate my dissertation to those advisors that took the time to invest in this research as well as their African American male students. Finally, I would like to dedicate my work to those advisors across the United States that have attended any presentation that I have conducted on African American males in the context of advising. Your attendance has encouraged me to be confident in what I believe and has shown me that people really do care about this topic. In addition, your attendance has birthed my dissertation through questions, comments, and continuous feedback. Thank you to each and every one that has played a role in my success. You have been my cheerleaders! v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation would not have been possible without the support of my wife, friends, family, coworkers, and co-laborers. I would like to first thank my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, for without Him, nothing would be possible in my life. The Lord Jesus Christ is the reason that I live, breath, and have my being. I would also like to thank my beautiful wife, Aundreia McClain, that I met in the program for her continual support and understanding while obtaining my degree. Your support of me, has given me so much strength. I would also like to thank my dissertation committee, Dr. Jovita Ross-Gordon, Dr. Joellen Coryell, Dr. Russ Hodges, and Dr. Mattyna Stephens. Thank your willingness to give of your time and for all of the kind words and encouragement. Your support through this process has meant more than you know. My sincerest gratitude to my former supervisor, April Barnes, as well as my colleagues for their support and listening to my frustrations as I pursued my doctoral degree. Without the full support from my former supervisor, I do not know where I would be. Thank you for supporting since my graduate school days and working as a graduate assistant under your leadership. Thank you for taking the time to allow me to grow as a professional and encouraging me to be my best and nothing less. To my parents, Roland and Judy McClain, thank you for being my confidants throughout the years and instilling greatness in me. It is because of you that I strive to become more each and every day. In each of my passions, you have supported me completely. You have pushed me to be more than what I believed that I could be and I vi sincerely thank you. Thank you to each and every one of my students that I have grown very close with over the years, and that call me higher. You have no idea just how much you have inspired me. Finally, thank you to my Christian family for the prayers and exhortation you've provided. To Pastor Anthony V. Monroe in particular, I would not be pursuing my degree if it were not for you. It was because of you that I did not give up on my dream to obtain a doctoral degree. You inspired me to achieve more in my life.
Getting to Graduation: The Journey of Low-Income Black Females in the Community College
2019
This dissertation is dedicated to all the Black women and girls who find a way to get it all done and make it look flawless. I see you. We see each other. The world sees you. In the words of Drake, "You know it's real when you are who you think you are." iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS With God, all things are possible. I could not have made it through this journey without God's grace and mercy. To my parents, thank you for being the best parents in the world and treating me like I could conquer any and everything with hard work and dedication. Thank you for allowing me to be me. I would like to acknowledge the gatekeepers at the colleges. You all were instrumental in helping me find participants for this study and your efforts are more than appreciated. Next, I would like to acknowledge my employer and all the support that was given in helping me to start and finish this degree. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge my committee for pushing me (and allowing me to get to this point). Specifically, thank you to Dr. Doug Smith for guiding me through this journey and Dr. Spencer Platt for always being in my corner and stepping in when needed. I would also like to acknowledge my cohort mate and writing partner, Dr. Whitney Prowell. The dissertation process can be very lonely, but you asked if we could write together and I appreciate you for that. Jesse Ford…thank you for being my biggest supporter and I look forward to the day when I call you Dr. Ford. I would also like to acknowledge the many individuals, personally and professionally, who prayed, asked questions, and supported me during this time. You all were instrumental in helping me get through this journey also. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the Center for the Study of Community Colleges for providing funding to support this research.
Working Against The Odds: The Undergraduate Support Needs of African-American Women
Research on the socialization experiences, professional development, and success of students and faculty have generally emphasized the importance and role of advisors as the support mechanism for graduate or doctoral students (e.g., Baird, 1995; Bargar & Mayo-Chamberlain, 1983; Gardner, 2009; Golde, 2001; Lovitts, 2001; Tinto, 1993; Zhao, Golde, & McCormick, 2005), rather than the role that mentoring and support can have for undergraduate students. King (2003) defines mentoring as a relationship that “suggests a level of personal interaction, nurture, and guidance that exceeds the requirements of ‘good enough’ research advising” (p. 15). King further states that “rather than being concerned solely with the student's completing the dissertation or developing technical competence, the mentor is concerned with promoting a broader range of psychosocial, intellectual, and professional development” (p. 15). King's definition should not be confined to just students at a doctoral level. If we assume that the decision to attend college occurs for both personal and professional reasons, then it stands to reason that providing a different level of support and mentoring should also enhance both the personal and the professional aspects the academic experience for those involved, regardless of academic level. Thus, the one tool that could have lasting and profound effects for the academic success of African American women that clearly seems to be lacking is mentoring.
2014
This body of work is dedicated to the loving memory of my mother, Mrs. Emmie Jones Cochran, and to Mrs. Claudette Simon, two very extraordinarily wonderful women. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The list of people whom I must thank for helping me to achieve this great honor is tremendously long and I know that someone will inadvertently be left off. First and foremost to my family, Jerome Jackson and Devin Cochran, I love you both very much and would not have been able to accomplish this without your daily presence. To my committee chair, Dr. Heying Jenny Zhan, you truly are a consummate professional, and an angel sent from heaven. Thank you for the herculean effort of working tirelessly with me to finish this. The many hours you spent in the office, in your home, and on the telephone talking and texting back and forth with me will never be forgotten. To my committee, Dr. Adia Harvey Wingfield, thank you very much for your expertise and knowledge. Thank you for selflessly sharing this with me to assure the delivery of a substantive work. To Dr. Tomeka M. Davis, I sincerely thank you for all of the sources you sent to me. I could have never fleshed out the proposal without your input. It is tremendously appreciated. To Dr. Don Reitzes, thank you for your guidance through the years. I appreciate the times you sat with me to discuss matters relating to teaching, and strategies to finish. Thanks to Dr. Lesley Reid for supporting the SREB scholarship, and for helping me with graduation details. To Dr. Mary Ball, thank you for giving me the opportunity to conduct authentic research and for your continued support down through the years. To Drs. Elisabeth O. Burgess, thank you for helping me transition from administrator to researcher. Without your support, I would have never fully launched. Thanks to Dr. Dawn M. Baunach for making statistics both relevant and fun. Thanks to Dr. Mindy Stombler, for sharing your expertise in teaching sociology. Your lectures and resources in pedagogy and methods have been very helpful in shaping my career and I am grateful. Thank you to Dr. Ansley Abraham, Tammy Wright and Nicole Schimmel for the SREB Dissertation Fellowship Award, without it I would never have been able to finish vi writing this dissertation. To Dr. Lynn T., thank you for your love, support and encouragement, when things got really tough. Dr. Mark Sweatman, thank you for your love and support. I still have very fond memories of our four-hour meeting in Chiles when you helped with advanced Excel to help me pass the eleven-day qualifying exams. The many conversations we had commiserating our dissertation journey have bonded us as family. To Mrs. Jennifer Simon Denbow, we too have become family in this long journey and I love you like a sister. Thank you to Charlie Denbow for helping me operate my calculator, to pass statistics! You are my brother and I look forward to seeing you and Jenny soon. To Anne Kronberg, thank you for the six months we spent together preparing for the qualifying exams. I will never forget the lessons you taught me. And to Dr. Derrick Brooms, thank you for your professional experience, strength and hope. I hope to follow your lead in providing attention, support and remedy to the issues that impede the progress of young Black males in our community.
Instilling the Dream of Higher Education in African American Women at a Southern HBCU
Multicultural Learning and Teaching, 2009
This article examines sociological variables associated with 160 Black university women to learn what factors propelled them to a university career. The findings of this study suggest that mothers with a university degree or some collegiate exposure were instrumental in influencing their daughters to attend college, in spite of their socioeconomic status. Cultural diversity in higher education may only be achieved when we learn the source of motivation and inspiration for young minority women and replicate those secret ingredients.
2018
African American women are graduating from college at rates higher than their Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino, Native American and even their African American male peers. This level of college persistence and success is occurring amid the challenges they face and share with their peers of the same schools, neighborhoods and society. Similar to many of their peers, these young women experience under-resourced schools and limited college preparation. In addition, they have unique school challenges including experiences with negative stereotypes and harsh discipline policies. African American women also face societal challenges through experiences with trauma, foster care and disproportionate early parenting, to name a few. Nevertheless, they persist. To date, the literature is lacking in studies that represent successful African American women who have encountered challenges yet achieve their educational goals. Through a reflective case analysis, this study investigates how the high sc...