Harvard Education PR Truth Without Tears: African American Women Deans Share Lessons in Leadership (Race and Education)

Truth Without Tears is a timely and insightful portrait of Black women leaders in American colleges and universities. Carolyn R. Hodges and Olga M. Welch are former deans who draw extensively on their experience as African American women to account for both the challenges and opportunities facing women of color in educational leadership positions.Hodges and Welch deftly combine autobiography with more general information and observations to fashion an interesting and helpful book about higher education leadership. They offer their perspectives on being the first deans of color in two predominately white institutions in an effort to fill a gap that exists in the literature on deanships in higher education.Each chapter offers reflections or examples of the authors’ particular experiences that have taught them how to become effective leaders. The book engages readers to consider ways of learning how to balance the need for action with “deliberative and deliberate approaches” that are grounded in maintaining decisiveness, accountability, and allegiance to organizational goals, especially those that support inclusiveness and diversity of perspective.A nuanced and complex depiction of successful leadership, Truth Without Tears is a valuable resource for current and aspiring higher education leaders. From the Back Cover Truth Without Tears is a timely and insightful portrait of black women leaders in American colleges and universities. The authors, both former deans, draw extensively on their experience as African American women to account for the challenges and opportunities facing women of color in educational leadership positions.   “Truth Without Tears is a conversation with two wise mentors. As young academics, the authors developed the double consciousness necessary to succeed—awareness of both the stated rules and the extra ones for African American women. As deans, they used those skills to address many other gaps between ‘saying’ and ‘doing’ in higher education. They share their insights with candor and generosity.” —Judith S. White, president and executive director, Higher Education Resource Services (HERS)   “When women of color are hired to lead academic units, we often disrupt the status quo, whether intentionally or not. Hodges and Welch offer a cogent analysis and thoughtful perspectives, with plenty of sage advice, on how to lead with intentionality and toward inclusiveness.” —Fayneese Miller, professor of psychology and president, Hamline University   “When two wise African American women share their experiences and insights, the rest of us would do well to pay attention. The lessons they offer have much to teach all educators who are serious about promoting racial justice and educational equity in our schools and universities.” —Sonia Nieto, professor emerita, language, literacy, and culture, College of Education, University of Massachusetts, Amherst  Carolyn R. Hodges is a professor of German at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and former dean of the Graduate School at the University of Tennessee. Olga M. Welch is the former dean of the School of Education at Duquesne University. Earl T. Braxton is the CEO and founder of Edge Associates. H. Richard Milner IV is the Helen Faison Professor of Urban Education and director of the Center for Urban Education at the University of Pittsburgh, as well as the editor for the Race and Education Series.   About the Author Carolyn R. Hodges is professor of German at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and former dean of the Graduate School at the University of Tennessee.Olga M. Welch is the former dean of the School of Education at Duquesne University.