“SEE US. HEAR US. MAKE ROOM FOR US.”: EXPLORING BLACK STUDENT AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS' SENSE OF BELONGING IN A RACE-BASED EMPLOYEE AFFINITY GROUP

Narratives of isolation and marginalization are consistent elements of the experiences of Black people in higher education, regardless of positions and roles (Anthym & Tuitt, 2019; Chesler & Crowfoot, 1989; Stewart, 2018-2019). The purpose of this narrative study is to explore how participation in Black affinity groups influenced Black student affairs professionals’ sense of belonging at a predominantly white institution (PWI) through the interpretive framework of a transformative paradigm. Nine participants participated in 60-minute, semi-structured interviews. Participants provided perspectives of their engagement experiences in the University of Georgia’s (UGA) Black Faculty & Staff Organization (BFSO). Findings from this inquiry were summarized in five research themes: BFSO discovery, engagement, belonging, maximizing experiences, and lessons for PWI leaders. Highlights from this study reveal degrees of connection, mattering experiences, visibility, optimizing the organization’s potential, and insights for the needs and retention of Black student affairs professionals. Across varying degrees of engagement and criticisms, all participants believed that organizations like BFSO are necessary at PWI’s. The research findings confirm and extend previous literature related to Black student affairs professionals, and employee racial affinity groups, and the sense of belonging theory. Future implications for research, theory, and practice serve to provide guidance to current and future researchers and institutional leaders for retaining Black student affairs professionals.