Symposium (4):
Belonging in Higher Education: Perspectives and Lessons from Diverse Faculty
“You are Young, that’s Why We Hired You”
Nicholas D. Hartlep
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, USA
In this presentation Hartlep shares his experience of being hired as a Department Chair and Endowed Chair at Berea College. He shares how the hiring process differed from other jobs he has applied for and how it made him feel as though he belonged at Berea College. In his narrative and presentation, he shares how the words that are spoken while on an interview help to make one feel as though they belong. He situates his experiences within national-level and field-specific statistics. He draws from the interdisciplinary work of critical race theory when sharing his counter narrative. He concludes by sharing suggestions and reflection points for hiring managers who claim they want to “diversify” the pool of applicants.
“Sense of Belonging and Black Faculty Turnover at 2-Year Community Colleges: A Critical Case Study”
Terrell L. Strayhorn
Virginia Union University (VUU), USA
In his presentation, Strayhorn draws on data from one-on-one biographical interviews with over a dozen Black faculty and contingent instructors at 2-year community colleges in the United States to elucidate the important role that sense of belonging plays in their recruitment, retention, and early departure (i.e., turnover) decisions. Using critical, race-conscious [auto]ethnographic perspectives as a lens, he articulates through vivid illustrations how race, racism, and power conspired in their day-to-day experiences, both within and outside the classroom. Implications for future policy and practice will be highlighted, tying back to the presentation’s overall scope.
In his presentation, Strayhorn draws on data from one-on-one biographical interviews with over a dozen Black faculty and contingent instructors at 2-year community colleges in the United States to elucidate the important role that sense of belonging plays in their recruitment, retention, and early departure (i.e., turnover) decisions. Using critical, race-conscious [auto]ethnographic perspectives as a lens, he articulates through vivid illustrations how race, racism, and power conspired in their day-to-day experiences, both within and outside the classroom. Implications for future policy and practice will be highlighted, tying back to the presentation’s overall scope.
Short Biographies
Dr. Nicholas D. Hartlep 
(Ph.D., University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee) holds the Robert Charles Billings Endowed Chair in Education at Berea College, where he chairs the Education Studies Department. His research includes examinations of the model minority stereotype of Asian Americans, higher education leadership, teaching and transformation in urban educational settings, and the impact of neoliberalism on public P–20 education. He has published 24 books in the field of education over the course of his academic career, two of which were named Outstanding Books by the Society of Professors of Education. Hartlep has received multiple awards for his work, including the 2020 Emerging Leader Award from the American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity; the 2018 John Saltmarsh Award for Emerging Leaders in Civic Engagement from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities; the 2015 Distinguished Young Alumni Award from Winona State University, and the 2016 Graduate of the Last Decade Award from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He is currently writing What Can Be Learned from Work Colleges? An Education That Works (SUNY Press). Follow him on Twitter: @nhartlep.
(Ph.D., University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee) holds the Robert Charles Billings Endowed Chair in Education at Berea College, where he chairs the Education Studies Department. His research includes examinations of the model minority stereotype of Asian Americans, higher education leadership, teaching and transformation in urban educational settings, and the impact of neoliberalism on public P–20 education. He has published 24 books in the field of education over the course of his academic career, two of which were named Outstanding Books by the Society of Professors of Education. Hartlep has received multiple awards for his work, including the 2020 Emerging Leader Award from the American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity; the 2018 John Saltmarsh Award for Emerging Leaders in Civic Engagement from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities; the 2015 Distinguished Young Alumni Award from Winona State University, and the 2016 Graduate of the Last Decade Award from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He is currently writing What Can Be Learned from Work Colleges? An Education That Works (SUNY Press). Follow him on Twitter: @nhartlep.Dr. Terrell L. Strayhorn 
(Ph.D., Virginia Tech) is Professor of Education and Psychology, Associate Provost for Faculty Development, and Interim Dean for the School of Arts & Sciences at Virginia Union University (VUU), where he also serves as Director of Research in the Center for the Study of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). An internationally recognized education equity scholar, Strayhorn’s research focuses on the social psychological determinants of educational success for racially minoritized faculty, staff, students, and other vulnerable populations in global contexts. His ground-breaking research on college students’ sense of belonging has informed state policies, transformed campus/school and workplace practices, STEM environments, and led to successful intervention testing. Strayhorn is a highly cited researcher, Associate Editor of Social Sciences & Humanities, Specialty Chief Editor of Frontiers in Education, Guest Editor of Youth and Sustainability, as well as author of 11 books and over 200 refereed journal articles, monographs and reports, with expert commentary on NPR, Huffington Post, and other national media outlets. A member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, Strayhorn is a faculty affiliate at Rutgers University’s Center for MSIs Fellow of the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) Leadership Institute, Diversity Scholar-in- Residence at Harrisburg Area Community College, Member of the Children’s Defense Fund’s Freedom Schools Research Advisory Committee, and several other boards. He has been named one of the country’s top diversity and inclusion scholars by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, “Top 20 to Know in Education,” and “Top 40 under 40,” by BusinessFirst, to name a few awards. He earned a Ph.D. in education from Virginia Tech, a master’s in education policy from the University of Virginia (UVA), and a bachelor’s in music and religious studies from UVA.
(Ph.D., Virginia Tech) is Professor of Education and Psychology, Associate Provost for Faculty Development, and Interim Dean for the School of Arts & Sciences at Virginia Union University (VUU), where he also serves as Director of Research in the Center for the Study of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). An internationally recognized education equity scholar, Strayhorn’s research focuses on the social psychological determinants of educational success for racially minoritized faculty, staff, students, and other vulnerable populations in global contexts. His ground-breaking research on college students’ sense of belonging has informed state policies, transformed campus/school and workplace practices, STEM environments, and led to successful intervention testing. Strayhorn is a highly cited researcher, Associate Editor of Social Sciences & Humanities, Specialty Chief Editor of Frontiers in Education, Guest Editor of Youth and Sustainability, as well as author of 11 books and over 200 refereed journal articles, monographs and reports, with expert commentary on NPR, Huffington Post, and other national media outlets. A member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, Strayhorn is a faculty affiliate at Rutgers University’s Center for MSIs Fellow of the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) Leadership Institute, Diversity Scholar-in- Residence at Harrisburg Area Community College, Member of the Children’s Defense Fund’s Freedom Schools Research Advisory Committee, and several other boards. He has been named one of the country’s top diversity and inclusion scholars by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, “Top 20 to Know in Education,” and “Top 40 under 40,” by BusinessFirst, to name a few awards. He earned a Ph.D. in education from Virginia Tech, a master’s in education policy from the University of Virginia (UVA), and a bachelor’s in music and religious studies from UVA.