2020 OUTSTANDING DISSERTATION AWARDEES
PHILLIP A. SMITH
TEACHERS COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
AWARDEE
Dissertation title: Leading While Black and Male: A Phenomenology of Black Male School Leadership
Smith's research interests include education leadership and policy studies, critical race theory (CRT) and humanizing research approaches, Black male principals, Black educational leadership, and African-centered approaches to school leadership. His dissertation, as well as his research agenda more broadly, is framed by the following two research questions: 1. What experiences inform the leadership philosophies of Black male principals and heads of school regarding leadership and Black education? 2. What experiences do Black male principals and heads of school encounter related to the principalship? Study findings described the essence of what it means to lead “while Black and male” through the lived experiences and perspectives of Black male leaders representing a range of leadership contexts and length of service. These included the following four co-constructed themes of Black male leadership: (a) Growing up as a Black Boy; (b) Leadership as Ministry; (c) When a Black Man is in the Principal’s Office; and (d) Safeguarding the Village. These themes reflected shared phenomena among their experiences as Black male leaders in White-dominant educational systems and spaces. The study contributes to our understanding of educational leadership from the perspective of the Black male school leader, disrupting the normative and traditional educational leadership axiology with a theory of Black male school leadership.
On gratitude... "I would like to thank Division A for establishing the opportunity for graduate students/ emerging scholars to present their work through the Outstanding Dissertation Award process. In particular, I would like to thank Dr. Melissa Martinez, Chair and other members of the Dissertation Award Committee for their review of all of the dissertation submissions, and for their service and commitment to the division and field. Immense thank you and appreciation to Dr. Sonya Douglass Horsford, Associate Professor of Education Leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University, my faculty advisor, dissertation sponsor, who nominated me for this award. I have benefited greatly from Professor Horsford’s mentoring and “frientoring,” which has been invaluable in helping me to think more critically on issues of race, Black education, leadership, policy, and practice. I would also like to acknowledge and say thank you to the other members of my dissertation committee, Professors Mark A. Gooden, Michelle Knight-Manuel, Ernest Morrell, and Kofi Lomotey."
On significance... "This award is a significant acknowledgment of the research, work and contribution to the field of education leadership. I consider this a shared award for members of my village, and community, both seen and unseen, who have covered me with love, support, encouragement, and guidance throughout my doctoral journey and dissertation work. My dissertation is dedicated in loving memory of my father, Alton Philemon Smith, and my brother, Trevor Alton Smith who both transitioned to rest during the period of my doctoral studies and dissertation. Both, in their individual ways epitomized what it means to be living while Black and male with dreams deferred and promises unrealized. I also dedicate this narrative and scholarly contribution on leading while Black and male to the foremost Black woman in my life, my mother, Hyacinth Eunice Smith. The Dissertation Award and recognition has significant meaning for me and those within my village community for it serves as a tangible acknowledgement that “I am because we are”. And so the award of one, is in fact the award of the many....
TEACHERS COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
AWARDEE
Dissertation title: Leading While Black and Male: A Phenomenology of Black Male School Leadership
Smith's research interests include education leadership and policy studies, critical race theory (CRT) and humanizing research approaches, Black male principals, Black educational leadership, and African-centered approaches to school leadership. His dissertation, as well as his research agenda more broadly, is framed by the following two research questions: 1. What experiences inform the leadership philosophies of Black male principals and heads of school regarding leadership and Black education? 2. What experiences do Black male principals and heads of school encounter related to the principalship? Study findings described the essence of what it means to lead “while Black and male” through the lived experiences and perspectives of Black male leaders representing a range of leadership contexts and length of service. These included the following four co-constructed themes of Black male leadership: (a) Growing up as a Black Boy; (b) Leadership as Ministry; (c) When a Black Man is in the Principal’s Office; and (d) Safeguarding the Village. These themes reflected shared phenomena among their experiences as Black male leaders in White-dominant educational systems and spaces. The study contributes to our understanding of educational leadership from the perspective of the Black male school leader, disrupting the normative and traditional educational leadership axiology with a theory of Black male school leadership.
On gratitude... "I would like to thank Division A for establishing the opportunity for graduate students/ emerging scholars to present their work through the Outstanding Dissertation Award process. In particular, I would like to thank Dr. Melissa Martinez, Chair and other members of the Dissertation Award Committee for their review of all of the dissertation submissions, and for their service and commitment to the division and field. Immense thank you and appreciation to Dr. Sonya Douglass Horsford, Associate Professor of Education Leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University, my faculty advisor, dissertation sponsor, who nominated me for this award. I have benefited greatly from Professor Horsford’s mentoring and “frientoring,” which has been invaluable in helping me to think more critically on issues of race, Black education, leadership, policy, and practice. I would also like to acknowledge and say thank you to the other members of my dissertation committee, Professors Mark A. Gooden, Michelle Knight-Manuel, Ernest Morrell, and Kofi Lomotey."
On significance... "This award is a significant acknowledgment of the research, work and contribution to the field of education leadership. I consider this a shared award for members of my village, and community, both seen and unseen, who have covered me with love, support, encouragement, and guidance throughout my doctoral journey and dissertation work. My dissertation is dedicated in loving memory of my father, Alton Philemon Smith, and my brother, Trevor Alton Smith who both transitioned to rest during the period of my doctoral studies and dissertation. Both, in their individual ways epitomized what it means to be living while Black and male with dreams deferred and promises unrealized. I also dedicate this narrative and scholarly contribution on leading while Black and male to the foremost Black woman in my life, my mother, Hyacinth Eunice Smith. The Dissertation Award and recognition has significant meaning for me and those within my village community for it serves as a tangible acknowledgement that “I am because we are”. And so the award of one, is in fact the award of the many....
The Division A community has played an important role throughout my doctoral journey. To be recipient of the Outstanding Dissertation Award in recognition of my research and work on Black male school leadership is a significant acknowledgment. I aim to continue exploring the intersection of race and gender in educational leadership, and development of a Black leadership epistemology—located in a theory of knowledge grounded in the social and historical context of the Black experience. This supports a move toward increased and improved understanding of the range of educational leadership paradigms, experiences, and practices that is reflective of leading while Black and male, and provides a significant contribution to educational leadership theory, research, and practice.
On advice... "Have a clear vision of your intended research focus • Use critical research approaches as a means to bring about impactful change through your research and scholarship Constantly seek opportunities for feedback, critique, and mentoring support to further refine your vision and research focus. Develop a robust and rigorous research methodological approach that is intentionally relevant to your line of inquiry, research problem, purpose, and research questions. Be fully invested in the communities that you engage with—research with as opposed to research on communities.
On self-care... "Staying connected with my church community. Turning off my video during zoom meetings, as needed, and remain fully engaged."
On advice... "Have a clear vision of your intended research focus • Use critical research approaches as a means to bring about impactful change through your research and scholarship Constantly seek opportunities for feedback, critique, and mentoring support to further refine your vision and research focus. Develop a robust and rigorous research methodological approach that is intentionally relevant to your line of inquiry, research problem, purpose, and research questions. Be fully invested in the communities that you engage with—research with as opposed to research on communities.
On self-care... "Staying connected with my church community. Turning off my video during zoom meetings, as needed, and remain fully engaged."