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Candice Nicole Flowers-Taylor, Ed.D., is a 2025 graduate of the Ed.D. program in Educational and Professional Practice at Antioch University.

Dissertation Committee:

  • Emiliano Gonzalez, PhD, Chairperson
  • Kimberly Hardy, EdD, Committee Member
  • John Scott, PhD, Committee Member

Dr. Candice Flowers-Taylor smiling in the doctoral regalia of Antioch University

Dr. Flowers-Taylor

Keywords

racial battle fatigue, qualitative, higher education, intersectionality, faculty and staff experiences, institutional racism

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

This dissertation investigates Racial Battle Fatigue within institutions of higher education, focusing on its impact on faculty and staff of color. It examines how race, gender, socio-economic status, and institutional structures intersect to shape individual experiences of this phenomenon. To explore these dynamics, the study employs a qualitative methodology that includes semi-structured interviews, open-ended survey responses, and thematic analysis. It is grounded in the theoretical frameworks of Racial Battle Fatigue, Critical Race Theory, and Intersectionality. This research offers insight into the emotional, psychological, and physical toll experienced by faculty and staff of color in predominantly white institutions. It challenges prevailing narratives that minimize the effects of everyday racism in academic settings. These findings can assist institutional leaders in assuming accountability and offering more meaningful, equity-focused support. Ultimately, this dissertation argues that Racial Battle Fatigue is a systemic issue embedded within the culture and policies of higher education. Addressing it requires intentional, equity-driven reform and a commitment to confronting structural barriers that disproportionately harm faculty and staff of color. The study’s implications are far-reaching, particularly for educational leadership, human resources practices, and the design of more effective and sustainable diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. 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.: 0009-0003-6817-5384

Bio:

Candice Flowers-Taylor, Ed.D., is a scholar of Critical Pedagogy and was a seasoned sociology educator with over a decade of experience teaching at the college level. She currently serves as the Pathway Manager for Health Science, Education, Arts & Communication, and Law & Public Safety at the Miami Valley Tech Prep Consortium at Sinclair Community College. Her academic and professional work centers on access, social problems, cultural diversity, and justice-driven educational frameworks, with a strong emphasis on equity, diversity, and inclusion in higher education.

Dr. Flowers-Taylor holds a Ed.D. in Critical Pedagogy from Antioch University. Her dissertation, "Racial Battle Fatigue in Higher Education: Understanding the Dimensions of Faculty and Staff Experiences," explores the lived realities of BIPOC professionals in academic settings. She also earned a Master of Arts in Applied Behavioral Sciences with an emphasis in Criminal Justice and Social Problems, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, both from Wright State University.

She has presented her research at regional and national conferences, including the Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology and the North Central Sociological Association. She was awarded a Seedling Grant as Principal Program Developer for an international studies initiative supporting underrepresented students in study abroad programs.

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