What’s Happening Here? A Literature Review and Autoethnography Exploring the Intersection Between US Higher Education Reform, Management Consulting Firms, and Racial Equity and Justice Through a Black Feminist Lens

Abstract

Public higher education institutions across the US interested in advancing equity on their campus are partnering with management consulting firms to implement institutional reform. Equity-focused scholars and practitioners across public higher education institutions are finding dynamic solutions to advancing equity in higher education. However, there is little research at the intersection of these realms. This paper explores the intersection between US public higher education, management consulting firms and racial equity and justice through a Black feminist lens by analyzing relevant literature and utilizing autoethnography as a method to relate my own experiences as a Black woman with professional experiences supporting education clients at a large management consulting firm and also, working as a contracted equity design consultant for a small design and strategy studio.