The Black Department Chair

Abstract

This chapter will explore the author's experiences as a Black faculty and department chair at an institution where the author's colleagues are majority white. This chapter will explore some of the joys of being “in charge” and some obstacles of feeling micromanaged by white superiors. This chapter will delve into the author's personal experiences using a narrative approach to share the barriers and highlight effective practices and recommendations to create more inclusive workspaces and environments for Black faculty. Ultimately, the hope is that the shared experiences will help develop new strategies to recruit, mentor, and retain high-quality Black faculty.