A Qualitative Study of Racially Diverse School Psychology Faculty Experiences in the Professoriate: Implications for Increasing Diversity in Higher Education

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to document the experiences of racially diverse psychology trainers in higher education. In particular, we sought to examine the views of faculty members in the field of school psychology, which is the least diverse of the professional psychology fields (e.g., clinical and counseling psychology). Data collected through interviews revealed that undergraduate research experiences, mentoring, and the desire to conduct research on ethnically diverse populations were significant influences on their decisions to pursue careers in higher education. Moreover, their interpretations of these experiences shaped their views on publishing research, advancing in higher education, and adding a diverse perspective to school psychology. The authors suggest that an improved understanding regarding ethnically diverse faculty members' experiences will give rise to improved recruitment and retention practices of faculty members in higher education.