A Qualitative Case Study Examining the Impact of a Board of Trustees Relationship with an African-American Female President at a Historically Black University
Abstract
There is a high turnover rate in the presidency at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), specifically among African-American women (Bonner, 2001). The reason for this high turnover at HBCUs ranges from resignations to poor president-board relations (Commodore & Owens, 2018). For some African-American female presidents, fractured relationships with boards of trustees have, in some cases, led to voluntary and involuntary dismissal. The purpose of this case study was to examine a relationship between a board of trustees and an African-American female president at a public, four-year Historically Black University. This case study assessed (a) board minutes, (b) media reports, (c) faculty/senate correspondence, and other relevant documentation in analyzing how it impacted the president’s ability to implement and reinforce the mission, vision and goals of the university. The case study investigated how that relationship ultimately contributed to the president’s termination. The significance of this case study was to identify the leadership achievements and challenges within the board-president relationship in adhering to and meeting the expectations of the board of trustees. As highlighted by the review of literature, the success or failure of any college or university hinges on the leadership that governs the institution (Gagliardi, Espinosa, Turk, & Taylor, 2017). Strong board and presidential relationships set the tone, and each should understand their roles and responsibilities in governance (Davis, 2014). A president’s relationship with a board of trustees can make or break their success at an institution of higher learning (Miller, 2017).
Subject Area
Educational leadership
Recommended Citation
Karla D Rutledge,
"A Qualitative Case Study Examining the Impact of a Board of Trustees Relationship with an African-American Female President at a Historically Black University"
(2019).
ETD Collection for Tennessee State University.
Paper AAI27547217.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI27547217