An Examination of Racial Disparities in College Athletics Leadership: A Study of Social and Cultural Forces Impacting Pathways to Athletic Directorship in Collegiate Athletics

This qualitative dissertation critically examines the persistent racial disparities in collegiate athletics leadership, specifically focusing on the underrepresentation of Black professionals in Athletic Director roles. Guided by Critical Race Theory, Systemic Racism Theory, and Pierre Bourdieu's concepts, this study explores pathways and barriers through semi-structured interviews with current Black athletic directors, supplemented by analysis of public materials. Thematic analysis revealed systemic bias, exclusionary hiring networks, cultural taxation, and microaggressions. Mentorship emerged pivotal yet scarce, highlighting embedded systemic barriers. Findings suggest policy interventions, including formalized mentorship programs, unbiased hiring protocols, and diversity accountability measures, advocating for transformative institutional changes in collegiate athletics leadership.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Sociology

Department dc:contributor.department

Sociology

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Foxx, DeShon Cameron

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Brunsma, David L.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Brown, Letisha Engracia Cardoso
• Ovink, Sarah
• Vogt Yuan, Anastasia Sue

• Black athletic directors
• collegiate athletics leadership
• higher education administration
• qualitative research
• organizational inequality
• leadership pathways
• sports management

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:43932

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/135543