Chronicles of Change: An Engaged Outsider’s Reflective Experience in Collaborative Endeavors with an HBCU

ABSTRACT

This narrative delves into the symbiotic relationship between historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and external allies, emphasizing the construction of collaborative partnerships. As an engaged outsider, I adopt an approach grounded in active listening, continuous learning, and commitment to amplifying HBCU narratives. Embracing my outsider status propels me to advocate and elevate HBCU voices within the broader discourse. The narrative explores unique experiences in developing collaborative partnerships amid societal change, underscoring HBCUs’ pivotal role in shaping critical discourse. This narrative, bridging personal experience with academic insight, offers a call to engage in collaborative alliances, extending beyond academic pursuits to contribute to societal transformation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alonzo M. Flowers

Alonzo M. Flowers III currently serves as a professor and department chair of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Prior to this role, he held the position of inaugural associate dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice at Drexel University. Dr. Flowers earned his Ph.D. in higher education administration from Texas A&M University. His research primarily focuses on academic identity formation for men of color in engineering and topics such as diversity, justice, faculty development, and critical qualitative research in education. Dr. Flowers has recently completed a book with Hopkins Press, which sheds light on Black scholarship in a White academy, intending to equip faculty of color with strategies for navigating the complexities of academia. Additionally, he is currently working as a coeditor on his next book, which explores practitioner experiences with servingness within HSI institutions.