Chapter 9: This Girl is on Fire . . . And so is the Kitchen!: The Real Balance of Wife–Mommy–Scholar

The nature and responsibility of serving in a capacity as an endowed chair is tremendous and provides a major platform in which detailed work related to community engagement in high poverty schools, scholarship, research, and depth of involvement in educational equality are crucial. Balancing this responsibility with personal development can seem daunting. In this personal narrative, I share honest and comical prose detailing the successes and challenges I have experienced as a female scholar of color. The implications outlined in the literature regarding the importance of work in urban areas do not detract from the importance of life-balance as a wife and mother. True to life scenarios are discussed that explicitly describe the challenges that come with having the best of both worlds: a career built on the passion for equitable education in the African American community, and a desire to exemplify motherhood of African American children with excellence. I also describe consistent triumphs highlighted in education throughout my career life and the mirrored personal triumphs, including a child’s first steps, late nights of homework, meals burnt to a crisp, and almost existing in the omnipresent at work functions, ballet recitals and necessary marriage investments. The themes embedded within the personal narrative will allow readers to use similar strategies of success and feel confident in building their own careers, and also seek solace in realizing the best measure of success comes with the satisfaction of doing what you love for self, family and community. Finally, I will share empirical literature regarding the success of Black women in higher education and provide parallels and digressions regarding my own positive journey.