AN EXAMINATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP PRACTICES AND UPWARD MOBILITY WITHIN THE NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM

Abstract

The purpose of this mix-methods study is to examine the association between leadership practices of African American administrators within the North Carolina Community College System and their upward mobility as indicated through a myriad of categories such as a high number of promotions and high organizational level. Secondly, the purpose of this study is to determine if self-identified leadership practices of African American administrators and the observed leadership practices as measured by the Leadership Practices Inventory developed by Kouzes and Posner are similar. The NCCCS is currently the third largest community college system in the country. This type of study may help to illuminate opportunities for growth in the area of leadership and administrative diversity within the system that may translate to other systems in other states. This study closely examined the leadership practices of ten African American senior level administrators. The administrators completed the LPI-Self survey while someone they supervise directly completed the LPI-Observer to provide feedback on the administrator's leadership style. Further, each participant answered eight open-ended questions related to upward mobility, career pathways, and career barriers. The findings revealed that these leaders exhibit various leadership practices in the workplace. However, Enable Others to Act is the practice exhibited most frequently by the participants. The research study included various future implications and recommendations that contribute to study on African American senior level administrators in the community college setting.