Dr. Brandon L. Wolfe and Dr. Paulette P. Dilworth
During a Thursday session titled “Transitioning Normalcy: Persistence Strategies of African-American Administrators in Higher Education,” attendees discussed how to navigate the tension between being part of a university leadership team, remaining true to your convictions in your role and nudging the institution to change traditions that promote a culture of White privilege.
“It’s important to have the internal dialogues about what you’re willing to compromise to achieve what you define as success,” said co-presenter Dr. Brandon L. Wolfe, assistant vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Wolfe and Dr. Paulette P. Dilworth, who is vice president in his office, presented findings from their case-study research about how six Black administrators perceived the intersection of diversity leadership, whiteness and organizational culture at their southern PWI.
Their concerns are common across higher education, where equity, mutual respect and full participation often prove difficult for Black administrators to achieve, Dilworth said.
Referencing a recent news report about diversity officers in corporate America feeling set up to fail, she contended that “the same could be applied to diversity officers in higher education. Set up to fail – or left alone to fail.”
