Decolonizing leadership : presidents and/or chief executive officers of color, institutions of higher education, and transformative leadership

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore race, presidents and/or chief executive officers of institutions of higher education, and conceptualization of leadership, and practices for advancing racial equity. The qualitative multiple case study used a comparative cross-case analysis and explored phenomenological conceptualization of leadership approaches and practices of presidents and/or chief executive officers of color of Minority Serving Institutions for advancing racial equity and in response to major racial incidents that impact higher education. The multiple cross case study The study used a subjectivist epistemological orientation and integrated theoretical perspective that includes critical race theory, theory of racialized organizations, and decolonial theory. The study was guided using three research questions: 1) How do presidents and/or chief executive officers of color conceptualize leadership and apply leadership practices for advancing racial equity at Minority Serving Institutions?, 2) How do presidents and/or chief executive officers of color’s experiences at Minority Serving Institutions influence their leadership and practices for advancing racial equity?, and 3) How do presidents of color of Minority Serving Institutions understand and respond to current major historical racial incidents that impact higher education? The emergent themes from this study include: 1) Minority Serving Institutions as third space sites, 2) racial equity for all through interest convergence, and 3) transformative community cultural wealth and knowledge. Key findings from within cases show that presidents and/or executive leaders of color vary in their conceptualization of leadership and application of leadership practices for advancing racial equity and Minority Serving Institution influence their leadership and practices for advancing racial equity. This study added to the scholarship on how presidents and/or chief executive officers of color conceptualize and enact leadership to advance racial equity in Minority Serving Institutions for historically underrepresented and/or marginalized communities of color.