Women of color in academic leadership: barriers, mentoring, and resiliency

Despite considerable research on women in leadership, the interplay of race, ethnicity, and gender in academic leadership roles remains underexplored. Additionally, variations in mentoring, resiliency, and spirituality among different ethnic groups in academia have not been adequately addressed. This study aims to bridge these gaps by examining unique barriers faced by women of color in academia. Using a sample of 103 academic leaders occupying various leadership or faculty positions, our findings reveal the distinctive challenges for African American and Asian women in leadership roles, particularly concerning cultural sensitivity and discrimination. Also, African American women exhibit higher self-efficacy in leadership aspects such as delegation, goal management, and relationship management than their Asian counterparts. The study underscores the necessity for higher education institutions to not only address leadership diversity but also to implement tailored initiatives that acknowledge and support the distinct experiences of women of color, fostering an equitable academic leadership landscape.