Fostering inclusion for Black faculty

Authors

  • Ember Skye W. Kanelee University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Joya Misra University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Ethel L. Mickey University of Massachusetts Amherst

Keywords:

praxis, higher education, race and work, intersectionality, Black faculty, tools and strategies

Abstract

In the midst of a global pandemic, people have been rallying across the world to protest the continual state-sanctioned violence against and the structural inequalities faced by Black people in the United States. In response to this, many non-Black academics within higher education have circulated reading lists and written statements at a dizzying rate. While reading lists are a good starting point, we encourage allyship in the form of praxis. This article offers concrete ways for faculty to engage in praxis to dismantle systems of oppression within higher education. We detail the unique challenges Black faculty experience within higher education and suggest specific ways non-Black faculty can support Black faculty at every stage of their career. Using data from interviews conducted with diverse faculty members, we suggest several action-oriented steps to address how organizational practices, policies, and culture in higher education may be altered to create more equitable and inclusive environments for Black faculty. 

Author Biographies

Ember Skye W. Kanelee, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Ember Skye Kanelee is a social activist and doctoral candidate in sociology who works collaboratively with others within and outside of higher education to examine how inequalities manifest within organizations at the micro and macro levels of analysis. Her work focuses on praxis-centered solutions driven by rigorous research and data collection. 

Joya Misra, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Joya Misra, PhD, is a professor in sociology and the School of Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her work focuses on mediating inequalities within institutions, such as universities, and at the societal level. 

Ethel L. Mickey, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Ethel L. Mickey, PhD, is a sociologist and postdoctoral research associate at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, with the UMass ADVANCE Program. Her research centers on analyses of power and oppression in the innovation ecosystem, contributing to understanding how and why to include women and BIPOC individuals in knowledge production.

Published

2022-02-25

How to Cite

Kanelee, E. S. W., Misra, J., & Mickey, E. L. (2022). Fostering inclusion for Black faculty. Understanding and Dismantling Privilege, 12(1), 54–63. Retrieved from https://wpcjournal.com/article/view/20931