Navigating Academic Leadership Hierarchy: Exploring Black Male Faculty Members’ Advancement to Senior-Level Leadership Positions in Ontario Universities

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore how Black male faculty members navigated the academic leadership hierarchy to attain senior-level leadership in Ontario universities. The literature highlighted the underrepresentation of Black male faculty members in senior-level leadership, the product of racial inequities and discrimination despite institutional commitments to equity in Canadian universities. Critical race theory (CRT) underpinned this study and acted as a vehicle to understand the impact of racism, anti-Black racism and oppression on Black men who aspired to leadership positions in academia. Inevitably, this study documented ways to disrupt and dismantle systemic racism that impeded the advancement opportunities of Black male faculty members in senior-level leadership in academia. Interviews with 11 Black male faculty members in senior-level leadership revealed that Black men experience major barriers/challenges in academia but were able to successfully advance into senior-level leadership because of numerous navigating strategies they employed.