Women of Color Administrators Challenge Misogynistic Structures in Higher Education Engineering Ecosystems

A recent qualitative study published in Research in Higher Education has shed light on the experiences of Women of Color (WoC) administrators in higher education engineering ecosystems. The study, which was supported by the National Science Foundation, highlights the trajectory of WoC administrators in a key STEM discipline: engineering. The research found that WoC administrators often enter administrative positions through social networks and opportunities associated with the "boys' club," and frequently operate as leaders prior to formally accepting administrative roles.

Key Takeaways:

• The study found that WoC administrators are underrepresented in higher education, representing fewer than 10% of administrators.
• The researchers used a phenomenological approach to examine the experiences of eleven WoC engineering administrators.
• The study found that WoC administrators often entered administrative positions through social networks and opportunities associated with the "boys' club."
• The researchers discovered that WoC frequently operated as leaders prior to formally accepting administrative roles, meaning that for some period, they served as de facto administrators.
• The study found that WoC administrators challenged the White misogynistic structures in their departments and institutions, creating sustainable pathways for marginalized scholars such as themselves.
• The research has been peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Research in Higher Education.

Statistics:

• The study found that WoC administrators represent fewer than 10% of administrators in higher education.
• The researchers examined the experiences of eleven WoC engineering administrators in the study.
• The study was supported by the National Science Foundation.
• The research found that WoC administrators often operated as leaders prior to formally accepting administrative roles for a period of time.

Sources:

• NewsRx. Findings from University of Georgia Reveals New Findings on Pediatrics (Women of Color Administrators: Entering, Disrupting, and Changing Higher Education Engineering Ecosystems). Education Letter. October 22, 2025; p 183.
• Women of Color Administrators: Entering, Disrupting, and Changing Higher Education Engineering Ecosystems. Research in Higher Education, 2025;66(7).