"I'm Stuck and Not Sure What the Solution Is": Navigating Higher Education Environments as Racially Minoritized Higher Education and Student Affairs Master's Students

While most higher education institutions and the field of student affairs espouse values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, racially minoritized student affairs staff members, including graduate students in higher education and student affairs (HESA) programs, often encounter oppressive work cultures, policies, and practices at U.S. higher education institutions. This narrative inquiry explored how racially minoritized master's students in HESA programs experience and navigate the racialized culture of higher education institutions. We were particularly interested in the ways in which white supremacy culture overtly and covertly shapes the experiences of racially minoritized HESA graduate students. Findings based on data from 19 participants, most of whom held multiple minoritized identities, highlight how white supremacy culture silences the voices of racially minoritized graduate students and limits their agency in advocating for change. Living at the intersections of multiple systems of oppression exacerbated feelings of isolation and the harm students encountered. Little or at least no formally structured support was provided to our participants in navigating these challenging environments. Our study, thus, indicates a need to transform dominant cultural norms and practices in student affairs to more adequately support racially minoritized HESA graduate students and transform higher education institutions into more inclusive work environments for all staff members.