Analysis, affirmation and advocacy: deconstructing experiences of imposter syndrome amongst doctoral students of color at a predominantly white institution

In my experience, students of color encounter an expectation of white normative standards within PK-20 educational spaces. Cultural disparage is exacerbated as students of color reach for higher levels of achievement as doctoral students. This research focuses on a duality of constructs to 1) take an antiracist approach to analyze the student learning environment within higher education and 2) build affirmational approaches to successful navigation for doctoral students of color. By focusing on consciously deconstructing elements which fuel feelings of imposter syndrome, this dissertation of practice examines the doctoral experience for students of color to develop affirmations for self and engage in culturally relevant supportive practices. This study utilizes Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality to advocate for the disruption of the valuing of assimilation over affirmation within the academy. Through semi-structured interviews with faculty of color and student participation in dialogic engagement within learning modules, the study adds evidence centering phenomenological research. The intervention consciously lifts voices, lived experiences, challenges and navigational approaches within the academy of a predominantly white institution. Findings demonstrate a critical analysis of higher education institutions to reevaluate systemic impact upon students of color and the racialized fueling of imposter syndrome. Personal narratives from participants name common themes of being othered, internalizing devaluing messages, and questioning one's worthiness and personal measurement of success. America’s educational system has failed students of color by devaluing their full identity, culture, and way of being. In order to establish an equitable doctoral learning environment, recommendations are offered to decenter whiteness, and intentionally affirm students of color.