Examining Perceptions of Black Administrators in Higher Education Regarding Administrative

196 Pages·2017·2.34 MB·English

by  Renita Taylor Thompson

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UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations Student Scholarship
2016
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Renita Taylor Thompson
University of North Florida, [email protected]
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd
Part of the Educational Leadership Commons, and the Higher Education Administration Commons
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Thompson, Renita Taylor, "Examining Perceptions of Black Administrators in Higher Education Regarding
Administrative Leadership Opportunities" (2016). UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 713.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/713
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Running head: EXAMINING PERCEPTIONS OF BLACK

Examining Perceptions of Black Administrators in Higher Education Regarding Administrative
Leadership Opportunities

By
Renita Taylor Thompson

A dissertation submitted to the
Department of Leadership, School Counseling, and Sports Management
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Educational Leadership

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES
August, 2016
EXAMINING PERCEPTIONS OF BLACK

© Copyright by Renita Taylor Thompson 2016
All Rights Reserved

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Certificate of Approval

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DEDICATION

It is with great appreciation that I dedicate this dissertation to my husband, Bryan
Thompson and our heartbeats, Kourtnee, Brenida, Taylor, and Bryce. Your love and
support were the key ingredients to my success. I thank you, love you, and hope to
make you proud.

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Running head: EXAMINING PERCEPTIONS OF BLACK
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
(Galatians 6:9, King James Version).
It is only befitting that I give honor to God for providing me with the support of the best
family, friends, and committee members a person could ever hope for throughout this process.
For some unexplainable reason, all of the people surrounding me are the best at whatever role
they play in my life. This mere attempt will not begin to express my gratitude for the
unconditional love and support I have received from each of you. Kourtnee, Brenida, Taylor,
and Bryce, you gave me the energy I needed to finish the race. Even when life seemed to get in
the way, one look into your eyes would always put things into perspective for me. I kept moving
forward because I knew four pairs of eyes were watching my every move; therefore, giving up
was never an option. I encourage you to dream BIG and no matter what the circumstance, never
give up. Thank you for understanding my unwavering desire to follow my dreams. I hope and
pray that you are able to realize the value of persistence as there were many sacrifices that were
made for me to reach the finish line.
To my soulmate and best friend Bryan, thank you for being the wind beneath my wings.
I appreciate your prayers and encouragement that kept me afloat when I thought all hope was
lost. You kept me focused and balanced during times of mental anguish and distress. I have no
doubt in my mind that this would not be possible without you being who and what you are in
my life. Your love, respect, and support were the key ingredients to my success.
EXAMINING PERCEPTIONS OF BLACK

Thanks to my sister and probably biggest cheerleader, Carmesha. I always knew you
were watching from the sidelines ready to jump in to assist with whatever I may have needed. I
am so grateful to have had you in my corner.
My passion for learning stems back to the way I was raised. My “Grammy”, Margaret
was my very first teacher. I am grateful that you made me research things long before Google
was the popular search engine it has become today. I appreciate you teaching me how to look
things up in the encyclopedia and dictionary. Although I could not understand your rationale at
the time, I would venture to say your strategy made a researcher out of me. I have you to thank
for my passion for knowledge.
To my parents, Theo and Tracee, thank you for always making me feel like I could excel
at anything I put my mind to. Your belief in me strengthened me and caused me to reach for the
stars. Daddy, thanks for generously providing me with a new laptop when my computer
crashed back in 2012. Although it too has since gone to “computer heaven”, many pages of this
dissertation were written from your gift. Ma, thank you for the titling sessions. I appreciate the
hours we spent brainstorming to come up with the perfect titles for each of the factors. Your
gift of time was greatly appreciated.
I would like to thank my “ride-or-die” mother-in-law, Ida, who stepped in on several
occasions to take up the slack whenever we needed her. Thank you for always being willing to
help me reach my goals. I appreciate your unconditional love and dedication. I could not have
made it if it had not been for your prayers and support.
Thank you to a host of family members and friends who lifted me up when I needed
them the most. Stefany, Ted, Andria, Shayla, T3, and UNF COEHS Cohort 19, your love and
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encouragement took me to higher heights during some of my most desperate times. I appreciate
and love each of you.
To my dissertation committee, my sincere appreciation for guiding me through this
process. Dr. Chris Janson, thank you for being my advisor and the chair of my committee. I
know that there were times when my expectations were unrealistic, but you remained
committed. I appreciate you for not giving up on me. I admire the passion you have for Q
methodology. I hope to one day make you proud by being a major contributor to the
scholarship.
Dr. Wallace Harris, thank you for getting me through the toughest part of the program.
Who would have ever known that my classmate and cohort member would end up being my
advisor. I would never be able to repay you for all of the work that you put into this
dissertation. God, bless you Wallace because I know there were several times you wanted to
call it quits but you stayed the course and I appreciate you for it.
Dr. JeffriAnne Wilder, thank you for being that voice of reason and listening ear when
things would become too overwhelming and difficult during the process. I appreciate all of the
work that you put into making sure my content was consistent and relevant. I learned a great
deal from you regarding my position as a Black female in the academy. I can honestly say you
have sparked an awareness in me that I did not have regarding Black females and leadership. I
am grateful for the newfound area of interest; thanks for the introduction and for serving on my
committee.
Dr. E. Newton Jackson, thank you for helping me to see things from every vantage
point. I appreciate the depth and breadth of knowledge you brought to the discussion. Your
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level of expertise is what caused me to stretch beyond what was comfortable, to ultimately
reach the final destination. The university could stand to have more individuals like you who
unapologetically tell the story how it really is. Your authenticity is what I valued most and what
encouraged me to keep pushing during times I began to doubt myself.
Dr. Sophie Maxis, thank you for your invaluable guidance and support. Words cannot
express my gratitude. This finished product would not be what it is without you. Thank you for
the wealth of knowledge you have shared as you meticulously read through each page. Your
knowledge of higher education, black studies, and q methodology made you a very strong asset
to the team. I appreciate everything you brought to the table to make this a success.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................... v
LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................... xiii
Abstract....................................................................................................................................... xiv
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 15
Background .............................................................................................................................. 16
Statement of Problem............................................................................................................... 19
Statement of Purpose ............................................................................................................... 20
Research Question ................................................................................................................... 21
Research Methodology Overview ........................................................................................... 21
Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................................ 21
Significance of the Study ......................................................................................................... 23
Delimitations and Limitations ................................................................................................. 26
Assumptions............................................................................................................................. 26
Researcher Positionality .......................................................................................................... 27
Operational Definitions of Terms ............................................................................................ 31
Chapter Summary/Organization of the Study .......................................................................... 32
CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF LITERATURE .............................................................................. 34
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 34
Mid-Level Administrators in Higher Education ................................................................................. 35
Career Advancement ......................................................................................................................... 40
Racial Barriers .................................................................................................................................... 43
Critical Race Theoretical Framework ...................................................................................... 46
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