Black Experiences Matter: Reflections of Black Faculty Experiences With Black Administrators

Abstract

Experiences of Black social work faculty with Black administrators is understudied. This mixed-methods study used a phenomenological approach to explore the experiences of Black social work faculty and staff (N = 55; Mage = 44.26, SD = 12.07) currently or previously supervised by a Black administrator. The main findings were that participants had more autonomy and positive interactions, formal or informal visible supports, and support and understanding from their administrators. Several respondents identified more affective perceptions and feelings rather than actual behaviors to describe negative experiences. Future research should expand the instrument to include more characteristics of administrators, the context of the respondent, and collect information from Black administrators on how they view their roles when working with Black faculty.