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This study examined the lived experiences of Black women higher education leadership doctoral students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their perceptions of program support. The last 30 years have proven Black women’s capacity to excel in degree attainment, now having the highest increase in degrees awarded across all racial and gender demographics in the U.S. (NCES, 2015, 2019; U.S. Census, 2019). Black women earn 63.3% of all doctoral degrees awarded to Black students. More specifically, in the last ten years, there has been a 73% increase in Black women’s doctoral degree attainment (Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, 2020; NCES, 2011, 2019). However, Winkle-Wagner (2015) stated that though higher education enrollment is steadily increasing, Black women simultaneously encounter challenges that hinder their advancement toward degree completion, underscoring the incongruity between enrollment trends and graduation rates. While there is literature on the doctoral experiences of Black women, it largely centers on the experience of this demographic at Predominately White Institutions (PWIs), leaving much unexplored concerning their doctoral experiences at HBCUs. More research is needed which centers the voices of Black women and their experiences and perceptions of program support at HBCUs.
This qualitative study, which employed the Sista Circle Methodology (SCM), engaged five Black Sista Scholars (present and alumna) in the collective storytelling of their unique doctoral experiences while providing empowerment and support through a series of Sista circles. The findings indicated that there were limited program-initiated resources; however, the Sista Scholars leveraged their cultural capital to navigate these spaces. They found support strategies through their family, cohort relationships, faith, and especially their relationships with other Black women. Recommendations for HBCUs included increasing social capital by building a network of Black women advocates, develop mentorship platform or digital initiative, and Sista circles as a strategy for persistence.