Finding – and raising – my voice as a Black female leader in higher education

The challenges and opportunities that arise when you’re navigating academia as a woman of colour require courage, resilience, authenticity and strategic planning. You need to speak your mind, even if your voice shakes. For me, finding my voice was a long, transformative journey – and I’m happy to share some lessons learned along the way.

Be authentic 

We need to acknowledge our unique perspectives and experiences. I am not just a woman but a Black woman. When I walk into a room, my identity walks into the room with me. People will make assumptions about me before I’ve said a word.

I always seek to be true to myself in my career journey. Every day can feel like a battle for self-validation, legitimacy and empowerment. Authenticity is a powerful tool to wield. Don’t feel pressured to conform to norms. Instead, bring your genuine self to the table, allowing your authenticity to resonate with others. If you can recognise that your experiences and qualifications are genuine assets that legitimise your ability to lead effectively, you can cultivate the confidence you’ll need as you ascend in your organisation.

• Resource collection: Being Black in the academy
• Resource collection: Should I become a university administrator?
• Leaving a legacy as a Black female leader in higher education

Don’t shy away from advocating for yourself. Clearly communicate your achievements, skills and aspirations. This is a difficult but essential aspect of advancing your career and gaining recognition for your contributions.

Develop a strategy

I knew I’d need to invest in education and continual learning to forge my way. I learned from my parents’ example that education was a way out of limited circumstances. I had to pursue what I wanted on two tracks: personal and community.

My personal track was through education – I obtained five degrees so my qualifications would be unquestioned. As a race, class, gender and critical race/critical race and feminism scholar, I needed the tools and knowledge to understand the history and experiences of marginalised groups.

My community track focused on social justice, working with those who are less privileged, less positioned and less prepared, but with tremendous potential and possibility. I tutored minority high school students through Upward Bound while at the University of Iowa, and I was director of an after-school programme for Black sixth-grade girls. When I moved to Nashville to do my doctorate in sociology at Vanderbilt, I taught college classes at women’s and men’s prisons, and at two small historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the area.

Ultimately, the two tracks merged into a life of service to humanity. This fits in perfectly with Virginia Tech’s motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).

Build a community and personal board of directors 

Although I have never had traditional mentors, I did have a few critical advocates at key points in my career. More importantly, I have seen the impact of networking, mentorship and sponsorship. It is my hope that I can facilitate connections and support other women in ascending to their rightful roles in higher education. I founded the Faculty Women of Color in the Academy national conference to support the success of other women of colour and to create a community in which they can leverage the experiences and perspectives of others on similar journeys.

Be courageous in difficult conversations 

Use your voice to challenge inequities and advocate for diversity and inclusion within academic spaces. Addressing these issues contributes not only to your personal growth but to the advancement of the entire academic community. One of my greatest challenges, but also the most rewarding, was supporting Virginia Tech’s sesquicentennial through the Council on Virginia Tech History. The council was instrumental in renaming buildings, erecting historical markers, supporting public art and engaging the descendants of those who had been enslaved on property that is part of Virginia Tech. Many issues of social justice are controversial and contentious. Sometimes, you might be the only voice advocating for an issue in a meeting. It is essential in those moments to be courageous and speak up.

Navigate challenges with persistence 

Like so many of us, my life history is impacted by the history and journey of my relatives. My father is from Sierra Leone in West Africa and my mother is from ancestors who were enslaved in Alabama. Both lifted themselves out of their circumstances through education. My parents taught me that racism is real, sexism is undeniable, and that as a Black woman, I would need to work twice as hard and be twice as good. I knew I’d face formidable challenges. Recognising and addressing obstacles is a crucial step towards overcoming them. I have found that patience has never disappointed me and that sometimes closed doors and opportunities, although initially moments of discouragement, may be moments of protection. The critical lesson is to stay focused on your own “why” and allow that to push you forward.

Express your creativity 

You can find your voice in public spaces by being creative in personal and private spaces. I enjoy playing and listening to music; I’m a classically trained pianist and violinist. I write blogs, books and poetry, and I am the creator of Menah’s Matinee, Music and Musings. Over many years, I have learned that finding ways of expressing myself when I’m in comfortable environments helps me feel more empowered to speak up in public environments. Creativity is a very important resource for our own personal power.

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve at Virginia Tech. Learning when and how to use my voice and influence is a lifelong journey. It is very much an art and science. The power of not speaking, not filling a silence with words, and of engaging silence are also important strategies related to finding and using our voice. I hope that I can continue to use my voice and my research to shape a more inclusive, equitable and innovative academic landscape for future generations. Through my work, I hope to help other women of colour find their own voices – and use those voices to forge positive change in the world.

Menah Pratt is vice-president for strategic affairs and diversity and professor of education at Virginia Tech as well as chair-elect for the Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. Her latest book, Blackwildgirl: A Writer’s Journey to Take Back Her Superpower, will be published by She Writes Press in April 2024.

If you would like advice and insight from academics and university staff delivered direct to your inbox each week, sign up for the Campus newsletter.

See our International Women’s Day spotlight for more advice and resources from women leaders in higher education.