Exploring influences of sense of belonging among staff of identity centers
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The world of academia heavily focuses on a sense of belonging, research surrounding students is flourishing, and academic programs are following. Research and practice focusing on staff's sense of belonging are minimally studied. Especially given the current political climate on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) education, exploring positions within this field is imperative. This study aims to explore the influences of a sense of belonging among the staff of university identity centers--an identity center is a student-centered office designated to develop identity and culturespecific content. The data for this study was collected through a demographic survey and virtual semi-structured interview with eight staff members of identity-based centers. Interview transcripts were analyzed and found to fall within four themes based on Strayhorn's (2019) and Schlossberg's (1989) theories surrounding a sense of belonging: identity, the value of mattering, flexibility, and motivation. All themes are interconnected and showcase potential opportunities for a positive sense of belonging and potential threats towards a sense of belonging, which were generated into subthemes for each original theme. Participants addressed different influences that contributed to their sense of belonging, showcasing the extremes of mental health distress to flourishing in their position. Political influences surrounding DEI policy changes on campus played a significant role in the participant's responses. These findings indicate the need for changes in current policies and practices surrounding staff environments and further research regarding staff's sense of belonging.
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Ed. D.