Chapter 1: From Chair to Podium: A Narrative Experience of an African American Female Emerging Scholar’s Entry into the Academy

Scant literature currently informs the literature about the relationship between the doctoral preparation of African American female doctoral students for advancement toward tenure-track faculty careers at predominantly White institutions (PWIs) and their transition as new faculty into educational leadership programs at PWIs. Therefore, using a narrative approach (Sutter, 2006), a newly minted African American female tenuretrack faculty in educational leadership shares her doctoral preparation experience and immersion into the professoriate at a PWI. Components of mentoring most attributable to her successful transition from chair to podium are highlighted. Findings are situated in Black feminist thought and link the experience narrative to mentoring benefits for an African American female in educational leadership at a PWI. Strategies are offered to aid doctoral students, particularly African American women, with successful preparation and entry into the academy.