Exploring the ally relationship between Black American students and White student affairs professionals at a small, private, liberal arts predominantly White institution

This study was inspired by the researcher’s own allyship journey and was designed to explore the racial ally relationship between Black American college students and White student affairs professionals. The allyship literature highlights key characteristics of successful allies, which includes an education on race issues, an awareness of one’s own White privilege, the willingness to lift non-dominant voices, and consistent action. Edwards (2006) created an Aspiring Ally Identity Development (AAID) framework to help student affairs professionals in higher education examine their own motivations for allyship and ally behaviors in order to be successful allies in the eyes of the non-dominant group. This framework was used to design the research questions and interview questions, as well as interpret the interview data. Interviews were conducted with six Black American students and three White student affairs professionals at the same site, a small, private liberal arts predominantly White institution in the rural Midwest. Student participants shared that they expect student affairs allies to be educated, listen, show compassion, and take action. Student affairs staff members believe they are allies if they show up for their students, and if their students are willing to come to them for help. While both participant populations shared a positive outlook on their relationship with each other, they both also highlighted issues with Academic Affairs at the site campus, citing microaggressions in the classrooms and a perceived inability to report faculty.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ed.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2024

Author dc:creator

• Sironen, Jacqueline E.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lee, Sharon
• Baber, Lorenzo
• Pak, Yoon
• Moton, Theopolies

• Ally
• Allyship
• Racial Ally
• Higher Education
• Student Affairs
• Black American College Students
• Predominantly White Institution

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2024 Jacqueline Sironen

Language dc:language

eng, en

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127361

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/127361