Negotiating Identities Across Borders: A Collaborative Autoethnography of Afro International Women in U.S. Residential Life

THIS COLLABORATIVE AUTOETHNOGRAPHY EXPLORES THE EXPERIENCES of two Black international women, originating from Jamaica and Nigeria, respectively, working in U.S. residential life and housing. Drawing from Black feminist thought and Afro-diasporic ways of knowing, we unpack how cultural dissonance, immigration barriers, and institutional expectations impact our sense of belonging, leadership, and resilience in a field often shaped by U.S.-centric norms. Guided by collaborative autoethnography (Chang et al., 2013), we each authored personal reflections and engaged in dialogue to identify shared themes. The four themes in our findings include: cultural dissonance in residential life; negotiating race, gender, and foreignness; community, care, and survival; and conflicting cultural expectations of independence and emotional expressions. Our narratives highlight both the challenges and opportunities faced by Afro international women in residential life, emphasizing the need for transnational mentorship, inclusive policies, and greater recognition of global perspectives in the student affairs profession more broadly. This study contributes to growing scholarship on international staff and students in HESA, particularly those who navigate the compounded challenges of Blackness, womanhood, and foreignness. We call on student affairs educators and HESA programs to intentionally embed internationalization into their curricula and support structures. Our work ultimately expands conversations around equity, belonging, and leadership, positioning Afro international women’s experiences as vital to the future of higher education.