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Dissertation
Phenomenological study: from us, to us - learning from the lived experiences of Black women leaders responsible for the employee experience of Black professional women at PWIs
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
Sep 2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00011197
Abstract
Black professional women leave higher-education roles at disproportionately higher rates than their White counterparts, reflecting persistent inequities in workplace experiences. The Black women leaders in HR, DEI, and senior administration face the potential ills of vicarious trauma as they experience those same inequities while trying to mitigate that risk for themselves and their colleagues. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to develop a model that provides strategies to support Black professional women based on the insights of Black women leaders who are responsible for enhancing the employee experience at PWIs. The qualitative data collected from these key campus leaders will (a) describe an organizational work culture that enables Black women to thrive, (b) identify the individual resilient attributes that have sustained them during challenging times, and (c) determine the most influential community support networks that engage and empower Black women to maximize their employee experience at PWIs. Using in-depth interviews, in-vivo coding, and an analysis guided by Black feminist epistemologies, the Black woman's voice was centered throughout the study, allowing patterns to emerge without a Eurocentric lens. The results showed that access to meaningful opportunities, the ability to establish personal and professional boundaries, and strong engagement in a culturally sound Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are crucial to the well-being and success of Black women while they are working at a PWI. The study concluded with a set of progressive but practical recommendations for institutions and individuals to address the issues that inhibit the engagement and well-being of Black women at PWIs. The study offers a multipronged approach to strengthen the engagement and well-being of the Black professional women employed at PWIs while providing an additional tool for those responsible for their experience to lessen instances of vicarious trauma. Keywords: Black woman leader, DEI, HR, employee experience, engagement, well-being, vicarious trauma, organizational culture, community networks, PWIs
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Details
- Title
- Phenomenological study
- Creators
- Cassandre Pierre Joseph
- Contributors
- Harriette Rasmussen (Advisor)Kristen Betts (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xi, 163 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Education (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991022098342804721