A Career Developmental Approach for Socializing Minorities to the Professoriate

Authors

  • Willie J. Heggins Washington State University Author

Abstract

The author examined the academic experiences of the minority participants involved in the Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) program. As a consequence of participating in the PFF program, the minority participants reported that they felt prepared for a faculty position; reported that the mentoring they received was effective; indicated that awareness of faculty roles and responsibilities was crucial; identified cultural dissonance, inclusiveness, and appreciation of a diverse faculty as issues of concern; and described the concept of "duality" in the socialization process as it pertains to the professoriate. Based on the data gleaned from the study, networking, mentoring, and research support stand out as major strategies for addressing the problems faced by prospective minority faculty. Establishing an awareness of the professional culture, understanding roles and responsibilities, and defining a relationship with senior faculty are among the efforts the author recommends to improve the recruitment, retention, and advancement for prospective faculty of color.

Published

2024-03-22