First Advisor

Christopher Borgmeier

Term of Graduation

Spring 2024

Date of Publication

6-5-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership: Postsecondary Education

Department

Educational Leadership and Policy

Language

English

Subjects

Change Management, Change Readiness, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Executive Leadership, Leadership Development, Organizational Change

DOI

10.15760/etd.3785

Physical Description

1 online resource (vi, 224 pages)

Abstract

With the increasing demographic diversity and critical focus on social justice in the United States, leaders are under significant pressure to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) strategies into their core operations and organizational culture. Challenged to think more critically about how to better prepare and support leaders in DEIB efforts, minimal research exists to provide insights on how executives should prepare, what they might expect, or the proven practices in DEIB. Driven by this lack of literature, this qualitative study explored how an executive team experienced and navigated the complexities of integrating and advancing DEIB in their organization. Specifically, the study investigated their deeper cognitive and emotional experiences, including how their thinking, attitudes, and actions evolved and changed over time.

Analysis of interviews and document review yielded four primary themes based on participants' experiences: motivation, challenges, lessons learned, and advice for fellow leaders. The insights gleaned from this study significantly enrich the existing discourse on DEIB and organizational transformation by: emphasizing the pivotal role of a CEO's visible commitment and leadership in shaping executive motivation and involvement in DEIB initiatives; documenting the successes of a collaborative leadership model where all executives actively participate; focusing on the development of critical consciousness and impact of positionality in DEIB leadership; addressing the challenges and trial-and-error nature of DEIB implementation and calling for further research into effective strategies and the development of new frameworks and support structures for leaders.

Rights

© 2024 Tara LaShawn Cooper

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/42273

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