This book, Voices of the Field: DEIA Champions in Higher Education, will explore the experiences and stories of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-racist (DEIA) champions and leaders within higher education. There is no doubt that in response to the United States' current racial climate that higher education institutions have DEIA at the forefront of their operations. Consequently, "as a Black academic or Blackademic educator and DEIA champion, I am not sure I always see institutions and organizations walking the walk and doing the work it takes to live up to those missions, visions, and strategic plans." (Tomlin, 2022, para. 1). From our experience, this is partly because institutions do not know how to support and encourage all higher education professionals, no matter working area, gender, or race to become more DEIA minded. So, this book will share stories of champions of DEIA along with how other higher education professionals jump in. Like some of our other projects, we approach this book from an asset-based approach where chapter authors are taking more of an anti-deficit approach. So, while each chapter author will explore the challenges and opportunities that come with being a DEIA champion within higher education, we will not focus entirely on what higher education institutions or doing wrong; rather, how the tools, tips, and strategies provided can help support current and potential champions of the work and field. One especially important contribution of this book is that authors come from many different spaces, departments, and divisions within higher education including: admissions, student life, curriculum and instruction, service learning, alumni relations, career services, intercultural affairs and many others. Additionally, chapter authors' demographics make up a wide range of ages, ethnicities, abilities, and expertise. Given the breadth of experiences, each chapter will provide poignant suggestions for DEIA champions across the nation as well as for institutions who are looking to better understand, advocate for, support their own DEIA champions. The work of DEI practitioners is a work that often goes unnoticed. The long days, nights, exhaustion, and lack of mental capacity due to constant going and potential burnout is the price practitioners pay to fight the fight of creating more equitable spaces. Griffin (2021) noted, "The DEI practitioner is becoming a household name in some industries–like education–an emerging staple." (p. xxv). we agree with Griffin; moreover, these household names are not getting the attention, respect, or resources they need to continue being successful in their roles. Additionally, we add anti-racist to DEI, as being anti-racist is an action. We argue it is the action that brings all the other pieces of the work together. Its the demonstration and active practice of fighting against racism that helps to shift and change a culture. This book will aid in showing all higher education professionals some approaches to being more effective DEIA champions while also taking action and moving more toward anti-racism as a mindset and way of being. Thus, Voices of the Field: DEIA Champions in Higher Education is positioned to be a must-read for all higher education professionals and institutions who are looking for strategies to support, promote, and encourage the growth and development of DEIA champions.

Don't Forget About the Adjuncts! is a work that creates space for adjuncts to share their experiences navigating workspaces within higher education and their experiences as part-time faculty. The primary goal of this book is to allow adjuncts to share their experiences navigating workspaces as frequently undervalues faculty in higher education. While frequently, adjunct faculty can feel unheard within higher education institutions, this book offers a platform for adjunct voices to be heard loud and clear. Contributing authors share the advantages and challenges they experience as adjuncts and the impact these experiences have on their well-being and career trajectory. Moreover, the authors provide insight and advice on how current and potential adjuncts can succeed and thrive, even with all the barriers or obstacles they face. The adjunct voices in this text have a wealth of knowledge and disciplines represented, expertise, and years of experience in higher education. Additionally, authors also come from all over the United States. With this range of expertise and knowledge, authors also provide advice, strategies, and ways of being for institutions to support their adjunct faculty and for adjuncts to support themselves. While many challenges are thrown at adjunct faculty, we are not suggesting that all adjunct faculty face the same issues. Moreover, this book serves as a space for contributing authors not to speak for all adjunct faculty but themselves. As editor and previous adjunct faculty myself, I encouraged and pushed all contributing authors to stand in their truth and take pride in this role. This book is the outcome of adjunct faculty loving and supporting their profession. Higher education institutions, colleagues, and other stakeholders can learn a great deal from the narratives and experiences shared to look at the intentional recruitment, retention, and psychological well-being of adjunct faculty. Thus, Don't Forget About the Adjuncts! is positioned to be a must-read for all higher education professionals, institutions, and stakeholders looking for strategies to do right by and for adjunct faculty.

Just as the first edited volume of this book, Working While Black: The Untold Stories of Student Affairs Practitioners, examined student affairs professionals' narratives and how they navigate their professional experiences, this one has a similar aim. This new volume birthed from the overwhelmingly positive feedback and massive interest from other Black professionals needing to share and tell their stories. So, with that in mind, a goal of this book is to share more of the "untold stories of Black student affairs practitioners by Black student affairs practitioners." (Tomlin, 2022, p. X). This book, crafted from an asset-based approach, chapter authors share the challenges and opportunities they have experienced due to being a Black while working as a student affairs practitioner. Additionally, chapter authors provide poignant advice on how current and potential student affairs professionals can successfully navigate the field. Authors within the book are from various student affairs areas and have a wide range of knowledge, expertise, and lived experiences. Such areas include Greek Life, Residence Life, Athletics, International Student Support, Diversity, Access, Career Services, Financial aid, Enrollment and more. Given the depth and breadth of experiences and expertise, each chapter will provide poignant suggestions for student affairs practitioners across the nation and institutions looking to understand these experiences to support their employees better. College campuses and spaces operate as models of the greater society. Therefore, all of the challenges and issues of racism, discrimination, and anti-Blackness are present (Rankin et al. 2017). While students experience these challenges and issues first-hand, so do the folx hired to support students, the student affairs practitioners. Kanagala and Oliver (2019) claimed that "for institutions of higher education to be equitable and inclusive, college administrators, faculty, and staff, including student affairs professionals, must attend to the needs of students, especially students with multiple marginalized identities." (p. 410). I argue the same is accurate in creating more equitable and inclusive spaces for student affairs employees. Student affairs practitioners Blackness must be accepted to move toward equity and inclusivity. So, this book roars, "student affairs and white colleagues, please respect our Blackness. Our Blackness is a part of our story, not yours!" (Tomlin, 2022, p. 176). Higher education institutions can learn much from the stories shared in this book that can inform the recruitment and retention of Black professionals. Thus, Still Working While Black: The Untold Stories of Student Affairs Practitioners is a must-read for all higher education professionals and institutions looking for strategies to support Black student affairs practitioners.

Black Faculty Do It All: A Moment in The Life of a Blackademic is a work that creates space for Black academics or Blackademics to share their experiences navigating workspaces within higher education and their experiences as Black professionals. The primary goal of this book is to provide insight into Black faculty experiences told by Black faculty. While frequently, Black faculty can feel silenced within the academy, this book offers a platform for all Black faculty's voices to be heard loud and clear. Contributing authors share advantages and challenges they experience as Blackademics and the impact these experiences have on their well-being and career trajectory. Moreover, the authors provide insight and advice on how current and potential Blackademics can succeed and thrive, even with all the barriers or obstacles they face. Contributing Blackacdemics collective has a wealth of knowledge and disciplines represented, expertise, position full-time and part-time, and years of experience in higher education. Additionally, authors also come from all over the United States. With this range of expertise and knowledge, authors also provide advice, strategies, and ways of being for institutions to support their Black faculty and for Black faculty to support themselves. Despite all the efforts with diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racist initiatives, Black faculty is still not okay (Tomlin, 2022). While many Black faculty have challenges in the profession, we are not suggesting that all Black faculty face the same issues. In fact, "the idea that all Black faculty would share the same experiences is a fallacy, and the insinuation is as dangerous as assuming that all Black people are the same" (Allen & Steward, 2022, p. 2). Moreover, this book serves as a space for contributing authors not to speak for all Black faculty but themselves. As editor and a Blackademic myself, I encouraged and pushed all contributing authors to stand in their Blackness unapologetically. This book is the outcome of Black faculty loving and supporting Black faculty. Higher education institutions, colleagues, and other stakeholders can learn a great deal from the narratives and experiences shared to look at the intentional recruitment, retention, and psychological well-being of Black faculty. Thus, Black Faculty Do It All: A Moment in The Life of a Blackademic is positioned to be a must-read for all higher education professionals, institutions, and stakeholders looking for strategies to do right back for Black faculty.

Dissertating During a Pandemic: Narratives of Success from Scholars of Color examines the experiences of doctoral students of color writing the dissertation currently and those who successfully defended their dissertation after the onset of COVID-19 and subsequent shutting down of college campuses in March 2020. While we know that scholars of color experience many barriers to completing the dissertation process prior to COVID-19 such as being in racist academic environments and being engaged in research areas that may not be supported by predominantly White faculty, it is important to consider how scholars of color are managing the dissertation process during this pandemic. We approach this book from an asset-based approach where chapter authors are approaching both the challenges and opportunities they have experienced due to being a dissertation writer during the pandemic. Chapter authors also provide poignant feedback on how professors can be supportive to their needs as dissertation writers. One especially important contribution of this book is that our authors are from a variety of disciplines including: education, social work, psychology, African American studies, and sociology. Additionally, chapter authors are doctoral candidates (and recent graduates) at predominantly White institutions, historically Black colleges and universities, and online universities. Given the breadth of institution types each chapter will provide poignant suggestions for doctoral students across the nation as well as for faculty who are looking to better understand the dissertation writer experience to support their own students. Because of the novelty of COVID-19, little is known about how doctoral students engaged in writing the dissertation during COVID19 are adapting. Moreover, there is little information available for professors on how to support their doctoral students during these unprecedented times. Thus, Dissertating During a Pandemic: Narratives of Success from Scholars of Color is positioned to be a must read for professors looking to support their doctoral student advisees as well as for doctoral students who are looking for strategies to navigate the dissertation process during the pandemic and beyond.

Working While Black: The Untold Stories of Student Affairs Practitioners will examine the narratives of student affairs professionals and how they navigate their professional experiences. While student affairs can be a high pressure and high stress environment for all professionals, Black professionals are often overworked, underheard, and made to feel devalued. Therefore, it is important to consider how student affairs professionals are managing the profession, colleagues, and students while Black. I approach this book from an asset-based approach where chapter authors are approaching both the challenges and opportunities they have experienced due to being a Black while working as a student affairs practitioner. Chapter authors also provide poignant advice on how current and potential student affairs professionals can successfully navigate the field. One especially important contribution of this book is that our authors are from a variety of student affairs areas including: residence life, student engagement, career services, counseling, student conduct, athletics, student activities, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and academic advising. Additionally, chapter authors are student affairs professionals at predominantly White institutions, historically Black colleges and universities, and online universities. Given the breadth of experiences each chapter will provide poignant suggestions for student affairs practitioners across the nation as well as for institutions who are looking to better understand these experiences to better support their own employees. Popular education press and scholarly conversations have focused on the experiences of student affairs professionals (Renn & Hodges, 2007). There has also been scholarship around the Black student affairs professional experience (West, 2015; Husband. 2016). This book will add to the current press and scholarly conversations by allowing Black student affairs professionals to tell their own stories, providing additional insight into what it is like to work while Black. Institutions of higher education can learn much from the stories shared in this book that can inform the recruitment and retention of Black professionals. Thus, Working While Black: The Untold Stories of Student Affairs Practitioners is positioned to be a must read for all higher education professionals and institutions who are looking for strategies to support Black student affairs professionals.

Black Faculty Do It All: A Moment in The Life of a Blackademic is a work that creates space for Black academics or Blackademics to share their experiences navigating workspaces within higher education and their experiences as Black professionals. The primary goal of this book is to provide insight into Black faculty experiences told by Black faculty. While frequently, Black faculty can feel silenced within the academy, this book offers a platform for all Black faculty's voices to be heard loud and clear. Contributing authors share advantages and challenges they experience as Blackademics and the impact these experiences have on their well-being and career trajectory. Moreover, the authors provide insight and advice on how current and potential Blackademics can succeed and thrive, even with all the barriers or obstacles they face. Contributing Blackacdemics collective has a wealth of knowledge and disciplines represented, expertise, position full-time and part-time, and years of experience in higher education. Additionally, authors also come from all over the United States. With this range of expertise and knowledge, authors also provide advice, strategies, and ways of being for institutions to support their Black faculty and for Black faculty to support themselves. Despite all the efforts with diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racist initiatives, Black faculty is still not okay (Tomlin, 2022). While many Black faculty have challenges in the profession, we are not suggesting that all Black faculty face the same issues. In fact, "the idea that all Black faculty would share the same experiences is a fallacy, and the insinuation is as dangerous as assuming that all Black people are the same" (Allen & Steward, 2022, p. 2). Moreover, this book serves as a space for contributing authors not to speak for all Black faculty but themselves. As editor and a Blackademic myself, I encouraged and pushed all contributing authors to stand in their Blackness unapologetically. This book is the outcome of Black faculty loving and supporting Black faculty. Higher education institutions, colleagues, and other stakeholders can learn a great deal from the narratives and experiences shared to look at the intentional recruitment, retention, and psychological well-being of Black faculty. Thus, Black Faculty Do It All: A Moment in The Life of a Blackademic is positioned to be a must-read for all higher education professionals, institutions, and stakeholders looking for strategies to do right back for Black faculty.

This book, Voices of the Field: DEIA Champions in Higher Education, will explore the experiences and stories of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-racist (DEIA) champions and leaders within higher education. There is no doubt that in response to the United States' current racial climate that higher education institutions have DEIA at the forefront of their operations. Consequently, "as a Black academic or Blackademic educator and DEIA champion, I am not sure I always see institutions and organizations walking the walk and doing the work it takes to live up to those missions, visions, and strategic plans." (Tomlin, 2022, para. 1). From our experience, this is partly because institutions do not know how to support and encourage all higher education professionals, no matter working area, gender, or race to become more DEIA minded. So, this book will share stories of champions of DEIA along with how other higher education professionals jump in. Like some of our other projects, we approach this book from an asset-based approach where chapter authors are taking more of an anti-deficit approach. So, while each chapter author will explore the challenges and opportunities that come with being a DEIA champion within higher education, we will not focus entirely on what higher education institutions or doing wrong; rather, how the tools, tips, and strategies provided can help support current and potential champions of the work and field. One especially important contribution of this book is that authors come from many different spaces, departments, and divisions within higher education including: admissions, student life, curriculum and instruction, service learning, alumni relations, career services, intercultural affairs and many others. Additionally, chapter authors' demographics make up a wide range of ages, ethnicities, abilities, and expertise. Given the breadth of experiences, each chapter will provide poignant suggestions for DEIA champions across the nation as well as for institutions who are looking to better understand, advocate for, support their own DEIA champions. The work of DEI practitioners is a work that often goes unnoticed. The long days, nights, exhaustion, and lack of mental capacity due to constant going and potential burnout is the price practitioners pay to fight the fight of creating more equitable spaces. Griffin (2021) noted, "The DEI practitioner is becoming a household name in some industries–like education–an emerging staple." (p. xxv). we agree with Griffin; moreover, these household names are not getting the attention, respect, or resources they need to continue being successful in their roles. Additionally, we add anti-racist to DEI, as being anti-racist is an action. We argue it is the action that brings all the other pieces of the work together. Its the demonstration and active practice of fighting against racism that helps to shift and change a culture. This book will aid in showing all higher education professionals some approaches to being more effective DEIA champions while also taking action and moving more toward anti-racism as a mindset and way of being. Thus, Voices of the Field: DEIA Champions in Higher Education is positioned to be a must-read for all higher education professionals and institutions who are looking for strategies to support, promote, and encourage the growth and development of DEIA champions.

Just as the first edited volume of this book, Working While Black: The Untold Stories of Student Affairs Practitioners, examined student affairs professionals' narratives and how they navigate their professional experiences, this one has a similar aim. This new volume birthed from the overwhelmingly positive feedback and massive interest from other Black professionals needing to share and tell their stories. So, with that in mind, a goal of this book is to share more of the "untold stories of Black student affairs practitioners by Black student affairs practitioners." (Tomlin, 2022, p. X). This book, crafted from an asset-based approach, chapter authors share the challenges and opportunities they have experienced due to being a Black while working as a student affairs practitioner. Additionally, chapter authors provide poignant advice on how current and potential student affairs professionals can successfully navigate the field. Authors within the book are from various student affairs areas and have a wide range of knowledge, expertise, and lived experiences. Such areas include Greek Life, Residence Life, Athletics, International Student Support, Diversity, Access, Career Services, Financial aid, Enrollment and more. Given the depth and breadth of experiences and expertise, each chapter will provide poignant suggestions for student affairs practitioners across the nation and institutions looking to understand these experiences to support their employees better. College campuses and spaces operate as models of the greater society. Therefore, all of the challenges and issues of racism, discrimination, and anti-Blackness are present (Rankin et al. 2017). While students experience these challenges and issues first-hand, so do the folx hired to support students, the student affairs practitioners. Kanagala and Oliver (2019) claimed that "for institutions of higher education to be equitable and inclusive, college administrators, faculty, and staff, including student affairs professionals, must attend to the needs of students, especially students with multiple marginalized identities." (p. 410). I argue the same is accurate in creating more equitable and inclusive spaces for student affairs employees. Student affairs practitioners Blackness must be accepted to move toward equity and inclusivity. So, this book roars, "student affairs and white colleagues, please respect our Blackness. Our Blackness is a part of our story, not yours!" (Tomlin, 2022, p. 176). Higher education institutions can learn much from the stories shared in this book that can inform the recruitment and retention of Black professionals. Thus, Still Working While Black: The Untold Stories of Student Affairs Practitioners is a must-read for all higher education professionals and institutions looking for strategies to support Black student affairs practitioners.

Don't Forget About the Adjuncts! is a work that creates space for adjuncts to share their experiences navigating workspaces within higher education and their experiences as part-time faculty. The primary goal of this book is to allow adjuncts to share their experiences navigating workspaces as frequently undervalues faculty in higher education. While frequently, adjunct faculty can feel unheard within higher education institutions, this book offers a platform for adjunct voices to be heard loud and clear. Contributing authors share the advantages and challenges they experience as adjuncts and the impact these experiences have on their well-being and career trajectory. Moreover, the authors provide insight and advice on how current and potential adjuncts can succeed and thrive, even with all the barriers or obstacles they face. The adjunct voices in this text have a wealth of knowledge and disciplines represented, expertise, and years of experience in higher education. Additionally, authors also come from all over the United States. With this range of expertise and knowledge, authors also provide advice, strategies, and ways of being for institutions to support their adjunct faculty and for adjuncts to support themselves. While many challenges are thrown at adjunct faculty, we are not suggesting that all adjunct faculty face the same issues. Moreover, this book serves as a space for contributing authors not to speak for all adjunct faculty but themselves. As editor and previous adjunct faculty myself, I encouraged and pushed all contributing authors to stand in their truth and take pride in this role. This book is the outcome of adjunct faculty loving and supporting their profession. Higher education institutions, colleagues, and other stakeholders can learn a great deal from the narratives and experiences shared to look at the intentional recruitment, retention, and psychological well-being of adjunct faculty. Thus, Don't Forget About the Adjuncts! is positioned to be a must-read for all higher education professionals, institutions, and stakeholders looking for strategies to do right by and for adjunct faculty.

Dissertating During a Pandemic: Narratives of Success from Scholars of Color examines the experiences of doctoral students of color writing the dissertation currently and those who successfully defended their dissertation after the onset of COVID-19 and subsequent shutting down of college campuses in March 2020. While we know that scholars of color experience many barriers to completing the dissertation process prior to COVID-19 such as being in racist academic environments and being engaged in research areas that may not be supported by predominantly White faculty, it is important to consider how scholars of color are managing the dissertation process during this pandemic. We approach this book from an asset-based approach where chapter authors are approaching both the challenges and opportunities they have experienced due to being a dissertation writer during the pandemic. Chapter authors also provide poignant feedback on how professors can be supportive to their needs as dissertation writers. One especially important contribution of this book is that our authors are from a variety of disciplines including: education, social work, psychology, African American studies, and sociology. Additionally, chapter authors are doctoral candidates (and recent graduates) at predominantly White institutions, historically Black colleges and universities, and online universities. Given the breadth of institution types each chapter will provide poignant suggestions for doctoral students across the nation as well as for faculty who are looking to better understand the dissertation writer experience to support their own students. Because of the novelty of COVID-19, little is known about how doctoral students engaged in writing the dissertation during COVID19 are adapting. Moreover, there is little information available for professors on how to support their doctoral students during these unprecedented times. Thus, Dissertating During a Pandemic: Narratives of Success from Scholars of Color is positioned to be a must read for professors looking to support their doctoral student advisees as well as for doctoral students who are looking for strategies to navigate the dissertation process during the pandemic and beyond.

Working While Black: The Untold Stories of Student Affairs Practitioners will examine the narratives of student affairs professionals and how they navigate their professional experiences. While student affairs can be a high pressure and high stress environment for all professionals, Black professionals are often overworked, underheard, and made to feel devalued. Therefore, it is important to consider how student affairs professionals are managing the profession, colleagues, and students while Black. I approach this book from an asset-based approach where chapter authors are approaching both the challenges and opportunities they have experienced due to being a Black while working as a student affairs practitioner. Chapter authors also provide poignant advice on how current and potential student affairs professionals can successfully navigate the field. One especially important contribution of this book is that our authors are from a variety of student affairs areas including: residence life, student engagement, career services, counseling, student conduct, athletics, student activities, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and academic advising. Additionally, chapter authors are student affairs professionals at predominantly White institutions, historically Black colleges and universities, and online universities. Given the breadth of experiences each chapter will provide poignant suggestions for student affairs practitioners across the nation as well as for institutions who are looking to better understand these experiences to better support their own employees. Popular education press and scholarly conversations have focused on the experiences of student affairs professionals (Renn & Hodges, 2007). There has also been scholarship around the Black student affairs professional experience (West, 2015; Husband. 2016). This book will add to the current press and scholarly conversations by allowing Black student affairs professionals to tell their own stories, providing additional insight into what it is like to work while Black. Institutions of higher education can learn much from the stories shared in this book that can inform the recruitment and retention of Black professionals. Thus, Working While Black: The Untold Stories of Student Affairs Practitioners is positioned to be a must read for all higher education professionals and institutions who are looking for strategies to support Black student affairs professionals.