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David Houle Ed.D., is a 2025 graduate of the Ed.D. program in Educational and Professional Practice at Antioch University.

Dissertation Committee:

Lesley Jackson, Ph.D., Committee Chair

Stephen D. Brookfield, Ph.D., Committee Member

Tony Kashani, Ph.D., Committee Member

Keywords

White racial consciousness, White privilege, transformative learning theory, interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), pedagogical transformation, racial equity, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), higher education, critical self-reflection, antiracism in education, disorientating dilemmas, inclusive pedagogy

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

This dissertation examines the evolving self-perceptions of racial consciousness among White faculty in higher education and its impact on pedagogical practices for fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. This study is guided by Mezirow’s transformative learning theory and Rowe et al.’s White racial consciousness model and uses interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore participants’ narratives of White racial identity, disorientating dilemmas, critical self-reflection, and pedagogical transformation. The research highlights key moments of self-reflection and transformation that influence inclusive teaching strategies, such as prioritizing marginalized voices in course content and rethinking classroom dynamics to respond to systemic inequities. The findings reveal how White faculty navigate the complexities of racial consciousness, challenge their entrenched biases, and revise their pedagogical approaches. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of reflective professional development in advancing racial equity within higher education. By placing these insights within the broader discourse on antiracism in education this research offers practical recommendations for institutional initiatives and highlights the ongoing journey of White racial consciousness as essential to fostering inclusive academic communities. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

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ORCID No. 0009-0001-8553-8381

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