Congratulations to Melissa A. Barrow who on Thursday, October 16, 2025, successfully defended her dissertation proposal.
The title of Melissa’s dissertation is "SHATTERING BARRIERS: EXAMINING THE UNDERREPRESENTATION OF BLACK AND HISPANIC FEMAIL PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS."
Overview of Problem: Black and Hispanic women remain severely underrepresented in U.S. superintendent roles despite growing student diversity. Structural inequities, biased hiring, and racialized and gendered systems limit their advancement, with White males continuing to dominate leadership pathways and women of color facing the slowest progression from principal to superintendent (Mathews et al., 2024; Cruz, 2023).
Research Purpose: To examine the lived experiences of current Black and Hispanic female school district superintendents. Grounded in Acker’s (1990) Theory of Racialized and Gendered Organizations, this study aims to explore how intersecting dimensions of race and gender have shaped their leadership trajectories, influenced their professional advancement, and continued to affect their roles as superintendents.
Research Design: This interpretive qualitative design explores how racialized and gendered organizational structures shape the underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic female superintendents. The study employs purposeful sampling, semi-structured interviews, and thematic analysis to capture participants lived experiences while ensuring credibility through triangulation, reflexivity, and transparency in data collection and interpretation.
Sample: This study uses purposeful sampling of 12–15 self-identified Black and/or Hispanic female public school superintendents appointed by Boards of Education. Participants must have served at least one year, ensuring participants possess sufficient experience with the responsibilities, challenges, and decision-making processes central to district-level leadership.
Data Collection: Semi-structured interviews will be conducted via zoom with 12–15 Black and/or Hispanic female superintendents.
Dissertation Committee Chair:
Dr. Susan V. Iverson
Dissertation Committee Members:
Dr. Nicole Joseph
Dr. Sagrario Rudecindo-O’Neill
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