"It's an Old White Boys' Club:" Faculty of Color's Perceptions of Policy Engagement

Abstract

Scholars of color remain underrepresented in policymaking contexts, and the absence of their expertise in policy processes can have significant consequences for society. In this study, we examine motivations for and perceived barriers to engagement in public policymaking among faculty of color. Using an institutional logics framework and interviews with 20 tenure-stream faculty of color at 20 research universities, we identify three main themes that elucidate their perceptions of public policy engagement: (1) the network-driven, racialized nature of public policymaking spaces; (2) communal motivations and perceived benefits of public policy engagement; and (3) the double-edged sword of engaging with public policymaking.