The we and the us

Abstract

This study investigates the importance of mentoring in African American women’s selection of higher education as a career choice and in their development as professionals in that career. The research provides recommendations on how African American female administrators in higher education can further advance their career choices and career development. Mentoring has been identified as a factor leading to upward mobility in employment, success in education, and personal development. However, research to date has not addressed the following questions: • How are mentors relevant to the career choices and development of African American women administrators in higher education? • How do race and gender affect the career decision-making process of African American women in higher education? This research clarifies how mentoring affects the career choices of African American women who become administrators in higher education and how their sociocultural and gender experiences define their career choices and development.