Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) play a pivotal role in shaping and developing Black women leaders. Unlike predominately white institutions, which can feel cold and unwelcoming to students of color, HBCUs pride themselves on providing nurturing environments that produce leaders. For example, Vice President Kamala Harris, activist Stacey Abrams, and Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms of Atlanta are graduates of HBCUs. This is not a coincidence given the fact that HBCUs are a safe place for minority students to flourish and thrive. It is a place where Black excellence is considered the norm and not the exception to the rule. Listed below are five ways in which HBCUs develop black women leaders:

Confidence

A nurturing community is one of the pillars of an HBCU. This sense of community prepares black women for the unique challenges that they will face in society. At HBCUs, students tend to connect with faculty who care about them and their well-being. When students feel that faculty and staff members are vested in their success and future, they tend to excel and become more engaged in the classroom. Not only does this safe place promote academic achievement, but it also boosts self-confidence in students well after graduation.

Guidance

Mentorship is another factor that contributes to Black women leaders at HBCUs. Students can establish relationships with mentors who come from diverse backgrounds. Mentors can help students navigate the challenges of adulthood. Mentees receive advice and guidance on how to succeed in and out of the classroom. Instead of winging it, students can learn invaluable life lessons from their mentors. Additionally, mentors can connect students with available opportunities—whether it be an internship, a job opening, or a key contact.

Leadership

Learning in an environment that embraces cultural diversity is beneficial to students of color. For Black women, attending an HBCU empowers them to feel that their dreams are attainable and within reach. Instead of being ignored and overlooked, Black women have a safe place to build their expertise and skills for obtaining employment in any field they desire.  

Emotional Intelligence

While attending HBCUs, Black women learn the fundamentals of emotional intelligence:

• Self-Awareness—They have the space to define who they are as a Black woman in America without the added pressure of having to “fit in” at predominately white institutions.

• Adaptability—College life, in general, enables all students to become more able to adapt to changing conditions. At an HBCU, Black women not only learn how to adapt in the Black community but at the same time assimilate to the social and professional norms of the greater society. Ideally, this should not be necessary; however, in today’s world, it is essential for Black women to adapt. They must deal with the intersectionality of being Black, a woman, and all other identities stacked on top such as sexuality, religion, and politics.

• Resilience—Since Black women are faced with unique challenges, they have developed the ability to bounce back from setbacks with poise, determination, a positive attitude, and renewed confidence. HBCUs teach Black women that they are not defined by their circumstances. HBCUs equip Black women with effective strategies on how to use adversity as a springboard for becoming change agents.

• Interpersonal Skills—HBCUs provide unlimited opportunities to apply the above three aspects of emotional intelligence in developing better connections and relationships with others. Black women become more aware of how they may be perceived in society and how to make adjustments in their behavior without losing themselves.   

Communication

In addition to HBCUs fostering a healthy community where emotional intelligence skills are finetuned, effective communication skills are developed too. Students are taught the importance of effective communication and how it is important to be polished and poised in the workplace. Black women learn how to effectively assert themselves and communicate in business settings.

Overall, organizations should take notes from HBCUs in regard to creating corporate leadership programs that are inclusive. What makes an HBCU special is its ability to meet students where they are and cultivate them into promising leaders. HBCUs create dynamic leadership skills by having a nurturing environment where students feel appreciated and are given the necessary tools to become their best selves.

Full Disclosure

I am a proud graduate of Howard University!