Leaders Matter: HBCU STEM Leadership During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Protests Against the Epidemic of Police Brutality in the Black Community

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which arose amidst long-standing societal efforts in the US to exclude Black people from higher education opportunities, have established a legacy of making disproportionally positive contributions to the participation of Black Americans in STEM fields. In early 2020, these vital institutions were confronted with a dual threat to their existence – the sudden onset COVID-19 pandemic and an emerging global awareness of police brutality in the Black community. This study seeks to add to understanding of how HBCU STEM faculty and administrators experience and define concepts of leadership in the context of benefitting and caring for their students. HBCUs serve as leaders in the quest to provide Black students with access to opportunities and careers in STEM fields, and it is important that we seek to better understand the practices, beliefs, and philosophies that underpin that success.