"You Know We Got Yo Back Like Chiroprac-tic:" Understanding the Role of the Advisor's Race on National Pan-Hellenic Council and National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations Students' Sense of Belonging at a Historically White Institution

Date of Award

2022

Degree Name

Ed.D. in Educational Leadership

Department

Department of Educational Administration

Advisor/Chair

Meredith Wronowski

Abstract

This study examines the experiences of National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) Black and Brown students with their fraternity/sorority advisor at a historically white institution. The research focuses on identifying the impact of the advisor's identities on students' sense of belonging on campus and within the fraternity and sorority community. Literature around Black and Latinx students experiences at historically white institutions, the history of the NPHC and NALFO, sense of belonging, mentorship and race-matching, and fraternity and sorority advisor cultural competency lay a foundation for this study. A mixed methods approach utilizing a convergent methods design is applied to analyze both the qualitative and quantitative data collected. From the study, four themes emerged; the importance of the network, othermothering and the multiple roles of the Black woman, the individual versus the office, and forced leadership and the spotlight. These themes allowed the researcher to construct an action plan based on modernist, symbolic, post- modern, and leadership theories for organizational improvement.

Keywords

Education, Educational Leadership, Higher Education, NPHC, NALFO, Sense of Belonging, Othermothering, Mentoring, Advisor Relationships, National Pan-Hellenic Council, National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations, Historically White Institutions, Critical Race Theory, Participatory Action Research, Higher Education

Rights Statement

Copyright © 2022, author.

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