Abstract
Purpose. This study addressed the experiences of Black women within student affairs at California public institutions of higher education specifically addressing resiliency and cross generational mentoring.Theoretical Framework. Black Feminist Thought (BFT) was used as the framework. This approach seeks to preserve the experience and transformation of Black women through the parallels of oppression and resiliency. BFT aligns with this research's goals to provide a space for Black women to share their stories of trials and tribulations in student affairs.Methodology. 8 virtual interviews were conducted with middle to senior level student affairs professionals that consisted of 12 probing questions. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed.Findings and Conclusion. The study found 5 major themes amongst these 8 women currently working in California State and University of California schools: Feminism is not inclusive to the Black woman experience, Code Switching, Identifying Your Tribe: The Power of the Black Family, Friends, & Faith, Yearning for Mentorship, and the "mama" complex.Recommendations. Regarding policy, the persistent employing of Black women with occupation notices being in "Black spaces" along with ethnically applicable coaching for upper management may help recognize and formally tackle Black women's microaggressions in the workplace. Future research should utilize a similar interview protocol allowing for changes in language while examining the experiences of Black women serving at California private schools. It was also recommended that a longitudinal case study following Black women in student affairs from year 1 of their career to year five, due to this time frame's critical nature as it pertains to achievement, learning, and movement within the field would be crucial to understanding their patterns. And lastly the creation of a web of networks that include the creation of cross-generational mentorship components across individual campuses and college systems serving as an active way to construct support and retention mechanisms for Black women.