Award Date

December 2018

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Education

First Committee Member

Christine Clark

Second Committee Member

Howard Gordon

Third Committee Member

Katrina Harris

Fourth Committee Member

Norma Marrun

Number of Pages

222

Abstract

This study examined the college access experiences of successful African American males. Postsecondary education is critical for economic and social stability; however, African American males from families with low socioeconomic status have been operating in educational systems that keeps them on the margins. Many African American males report strong postsecondary educational aspirations early in their educational careers, but they encounter microaggressions that leave them feeling like outsiders-within. This study examined African American males’ college access experiences as they successfully transitioned through the K-16 educational pipeline. Further, their experiences in their role (s) as postsecondary educators or postsecondary educational leaders working with African American males who also have postsecondary educational aspirations was examined.

Utilizing Critical Race Theory, Funds of Knowledge, Community Cultural Wealth, and Anti-Deficit/Pro-Asset Educational Achievement Framework, as the theoretical lenses, I considered historical and current research on the African American male educational experience, examined how educator’s low educational expectations can lead to the aspirations-achievement paradox, and explored the role of race-consciousness in postsecondary education access. This qualitative instrumental case study provided greater insights into this phenomenon and addressed gaps in the existing literature on the college access experiences of African American male postsecondary educators and educational leaders.

Keywords

african american males; anti-deficit/pro-asset educational achievement framework; college access; critical race theory; postsecondary education

Disciplines

Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education

File Format

pdf

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/


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