From Struggle to Scholarship: A Black Woman’s Journey to Leadership and a PhD

Faith and Family

     My father, a passionate advocate for education and an avid reader, instilled in me a deep love of learning. Coupled with my family’s values and my strong spiritual foundation, his example fuels my pursuit of knowledge and shapes every step I take with faith, resilience, and purpose.

Fueled by Relentless Drive

     My PhD program started in earnest in June 2021. Within the same period, I lost my father. I knew I would have to apply the lessons he instilled in me during his life to achieve everything he had hoped for my success. It would take me five whole years before I completed this highest level of education. My journey included the effective navigation of multiple professions, personal responsibilities like raising my son and seeing him through high school, completing rigorous academic work, leading the Girls With Pearls mentorship program, sustaining a full-time career, and completing the McKinsey & Company Black Leadership Academy. Every one of these endeavors demanded considerable discipline, resilience, strategic time management, and perseverance.

The Culmination of a Five-Year Journey

     In June 2025, I put the final ink on my doctoral studies. This moment represents more than earning a degree; it embodies the integration of rigorous scholarly inquiry, community engagement, and leadership development. It reflects my commitment to personal and professional growth, as well as my aspiration to contribute to the broader legacy of resilience and leadership within my community—standing on the shoulders of those who came before, whose legacy I carry forward.

     Completing a PhD program is not easy. It involves endless sleepless nights, and the weight of books laying constantly on the reading table. Several articles would remain open as additional tabs on my computer screen, and tons of scrap paper defining my constant engagement with academic material. Every one of these materials appearing like a carefully woven tapestry of ideas, shifting from the familiar cadence of everyday writing to the precise, disciplined language of a scholar. Each semester felt like hazing, and a rite of passage, a proving ground where the expectation was clear: maintain a standard of excellence, or step aside.

      My first quantitative statistics course felt like an initiation. Numbers had never been my strongest suit, and concepts like ANOVA, regression models, and p-values felt like entirely new skills to master. Every day, the course seemed to whisper, “Prove you belong here.” I obliged. I labored over every formula and calculation, carefully crossing each fragile bridge. By the end of the semester, I emerged scarred but unbroken—with the B that would carry me forward.

Commitment to Excellence

  From the very beginning, I wanted to maintain a Grade of B and higher in each of the fifteen courses. I achieved this and much more. I successfully completed my coursework with a cumulative GPA of 3.64. The rigorous five-year process became a satisfying reward, and each course represented a conquered intellectual challenge.

All in all, I developed unmatched focus. It is a skill that emerged from the inevitable intersection between my research interests and professional experiences. Ultimately, it was this intersection that culminated into my dissertation topic. My other longstanding interests in women leadership, especially the experiences of Black women leaders acted as the very foundation of my scholarly inquiry.

Working as an educational consultant offered significant advantages. I had the opportunity to engage with school districts across the United States, particularly urban districts led by Black women. The experiences shared by these Black women school administrators highlighted the persistent challenges facing Black women in educational leadership. For example, Black superintendents, both men and women, were often displaced from their positions within three to four years. This trend was even more pronounced among women, frequently forcing them to resign and leave the field of education altogether. Some chose to pursue alternative careers outside of education . My observations indicated Black women experienced occupational stress due to workplace discrimination, which resulted in associated health concerns. The insights informed the formulation of my dissertation, titled “Superintendent Stress and Mental Health: The Case of African American Female Superintendents in the United States,” which explores the stressors, challenges, and mental health outcomes reflected in the lived experiences of this underrepresented group of educational leaders.

Still, nothing compares to the effort I invested in gathering information on my topic. I began by collecting both primary and secondary data and also navigated the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process. This step in doctoral studies is among the most rigorous and time-consuming, requiring multiple revisions and careful attention to detail. Its purpose is to ensure the protection of study participants and maintain the integrity of the research.

     Although the IRB process can be tedious, it is an essential part of data collection. Once I received the necessary approval, I proceeded with my qualitative study, which examined the lived experiences of ten current, former, and retired African American female school superintendents in the United States. No one fully prepares for the challenges of conducting interviews. The process proved both inspiring and heartrending, particularly as it illuminated the lived experiences and narratives of the African American female school superintendents I interviewed.

     Twelve themes emerged from the data to answer the research questions: (a) Black women, hidden burdens; (b) the price of leadership; (c) Afrocentric and unapologetic; (d) when leadership tried to break you; (e) the toll of racialized leadership stress; (f) navigating resistance to equity leadership; (g) community and faith; (h) positive outlook and wellness; (i) community-driven equity advocacy; (j) diversity, equity, and inclusion pushback and isolation; (k) community support; and (l) sustaining leadership through self-care and reflection. The findings of my study added to the broader conversation in education and leadership, adding insight on how to cultivate a more equitable and inclusive leadership environment.

Voices That Resonate Deeply

One story I will never forget is that of a participant who described a parent demanding to see the superintendent, seemingly unable to recognize that, because she was Black, she could rightfully hold that position. The parent even declined to address her as “Dr.,” reflecting a broader pattern of under-titling and under-credentialing faced not only by Black women superintendents, but also by Black women who have earned advanced degrees and hold leadership positions, despite their achievements.

Another participant described an incident in which a board member sought to undermine the superintendent by taking steps to remove her from her leadership role. The board member’s conduct reflected both racism and sexism, as shown through his explicit hostility toward women and, in particular, Black individuals. Notably, he was later arrested for his involvement in the January 6 insurrection.  

     These accounts demonstrate that Black women superintendents face profound political and personal challenges, all while being held to impossible standards of “perfection” under constant observation. Beyond these demands, they must navigate the complexities of workplace politics and manage the duplicity of colleagues who appear supportive in public yet undermine them in private. Compounding these struggles is the burden often described as the “Black tax.” Within this context, the Black tax reflects the heightened scrutiny and added responsibilities placed on Black leaders, who are expected to outperform their peers, serve as representatives of their entire race, and continually reestablish their competence in environments where their authority is routinely questioned

     These experiences resonate profoundly. The pressure to be flawless, knowing that even small mistakes may be unforgiven or quietly used to undermine you, is an ever-present reality. Meeting these challenges requires more than personal determination; it draws on a strong relationship with God, the support of sister circles, family, and community, as well as practices such as mindfulness and physical activity to manage occupational stress. Together, these resources sustain resilience, well-being, and the capacity to lead with integrity and excellence.

I Crossed the Finish Line, Far from Finished, Just Getting Started

After countless revisions, I finally stood before my committee to defend my dissertation. My computer held dozens of versions with names like Final Final Dissertation or Final with Date, each one marking another step in the journey. I saved copies in iCloud and across multiple devices, terrified that years of work might vanish in an instant. The process felt like walking through a maze with no clear end, guided only by faith, determination, and an unwavering belief that I could finish.

     Nights blurred into mornings as the glow of my computer screen replaced sleep. Even when my mother was hospitalized that May, I pressed on, completing Chapter Five in the quiet spaces between hospital visits and prayers. The weight of the season was heavy, but I refused to stop until I reached the final destination.

One scripture that anchored me was Ecclesiastes 9:11: “The race is not given to the swift nor to the strong, but to the one who endures to the end.” These words became my reminder to keep going when exhaustion tried to take over.

  When my manuscript was finally approved, I was scheduled to defend. The defense lasted more than an hour and included a wide range of questions from my chair and committee. At the end, hearing the words, “Congratulations, Dr. Bell,” felt like crossing the finish line of a marathon. I could finally catch my breath. What made the moment even more meaningful was having my mother there to witness my defense. Sharing that day with her was one of the most powerful and unforgettable parts of my journey.

The Race Is Not Given… But I Finished

Some journeys are meant to test every part of you, your strength, your patience, your faith. Completing a PhD is one of those journeys, and I want you to know that if you are in the middle of your own marathon, your struggle does not define your finish. I hope my story inspires you. Whether you are leading a team, pursuing a lifelong dream, or tackling a challenging project, remember this: even when exhaustion weighs heavy and quitting feels tempting, do not give up. Keep moving forward. People are counting on you to fulfill the purpose God has placed in your life. Take care of your mental and emotional well-being. Practice self-care. Set healthy boundaries. Protect the energy you need to reach the finish line.

I shared my experiences not just to tell a story, but to show how my journey shaped my scholarship and strengthened my commitment to meaningful leadership, social justice, and advocacy. My work on Black women in leadership is meant to spark honest, courageous conversations, conversations that call for equity, justice, and lasting change. My hope is that it serves as a catalyst for positive impact in these challenging times.

Finally, I am standing on the shoulders of my ancestors, who fought, sacrificed, and paved the way for generations to come. Their legacy reminds me that I am part of a continuum of strength and courage. I am inspired to:

Fight like Shirley Chisholm. Fight like Maya Angelou. Fight like Harriet Tubman. Fight like Rosa Parks. Fight like Fannie Lou Hamer. Fight like Ella Baker. Fight like Diane Nash. Fight like Gloria Richardson.

  Their courage, and the sacrifices of my own family before me, push me to lead with integrity, persevere against adversity, and ensure that the paths I forge make it easier for those who follow.

 Thank you for taking the time to read my From Struggle to Scholarship: A Black Woman’s Journey to Leadership and a PhD blog. I hope you found the information valuable and that it brought you insights or solutions. If you have any questions or thoughts, feel free to share them in the comments. Happy reading and until next time!

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