What’s in a Name … or a Face? Student Perceptions of Faculty Race

ABSTRACT

Utilizing Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a conceptual framework, this study examines student perception of faculty of color in academia from student professor preference. Using an experimental design to test the effect of race on selection of faculty with whom to take a course, we showed student participants two types of pairings of faculty: first, pairs of photos of faculty of different races, and same age and attractiveness, then names of faculty, paired by different race were shown. The study provided evidence of racial bias with a strong preference for courses taught by White faculty by various subgroups of students, providing a snapshot of what faculty of color potentially stand to face in classroom environments.

KEYWORDS:

• Diversity
• evaluation
• faculty
• perception
• student

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jeanette Morehouse Mendez

Jeanette Morehouse Mendez is a Professor of Political Science at Oklahoma State University. After graduating from Santa Clara University in 1998 with a BS in Combined Sciences, she earned a MA in 2000 and a PhD in political science in 2003 from Indiana University. Mendez’s research focuses primarily on political information processing, political behavior, and political communication. Her new book, Descriptive Elections: Empowering the American Electorate, explores campaign dynamics and outcomes when women are candidates. Her work has been published in journals including Journal of Politics, Political Research Quarterly, Social Science Quarterly, Political Psychology, Politics and Gender, Journal of Women, Politics and Policy, PS: Political Science and Politics, Journal of Media Psychology, and Journal of Political Science. Mendez is currently the coeditor of Political Research Quarterly and continues to teach courses in Public Opinion, Elections, and Survey Research.

Jesse Perez Mendez

Jesse Perez Mendez is a Professor of Higher Education and Policy Studies within the College of Education and Human Performance at the University of Central Florida. He earned his PhD in Higher Education and JD from the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University. Mendez also holds a MA in Political Science from Texas Tech University and a BA from Midwestern State University. Mendez’s research explores the dynamics of postsecondary access and campus safety issues in higher education and has been published in such outlets as the Community College Review, Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, and NASPA Journal on Women in Higher Education, and a recently completed book, entitled Hispanic-Serving Institutions in American Higher Education.