Achieving Against the Odds

Achieving Against the Odds : African American Professional Women in Higher Education is an account of the success stories of five African American women administrators and faculty in predominantly White institutions of higher education (PWIs). While African American women continue to face numerous challenges and obstacles on a daily basis what was most important in this writing was an examination of the various types of strategies and coping mechanisms they utilized to achieve success in their various positions within the ivory towers of academia. The questions posed here centered on African American women who succeeded and asked How and why are some African American women able to remain in the university and succeed? What personal and professional fulfillment do African American women obtain working in a PWI? How do African American administrators and faculty negotiate demeaning oppressive and often exclusionary practices of the university? Utilizing qualitative methodology the authors gave voice to the observations reflections and stories of the five African American women administrators and faculty regarding their personal journeys of success and achievement. In capturing the experiences and perspectives of these successful women the authors provide understanding of pathways to success for others who follow. Recommendations are offered for the purpose of facilitating a more welcoming academic environment for the gifts and talents African American women bring.