Picture – from left to right 100 Black Women Professors Now participants: Korry, Anyssa, Ozioma, Victoria and Pauline

100 Black Women Professors Now (BWPN) is a 12-month programme which aims to propel equity of opportunity for Black women academics, researchers and PhD students and to deliver a step change in progress for the HE sector by working with individuals throughout the academic pipeline as well as institutions, managers and leaders. These are reflections about the programme from 2024 participants.

Friday, January 19th, 2024, marked the start of a new cohort of the Black Women Professors Now (BWPN) program. This cohort had six participants, namely Anyssa Navrer-Agasson, Korry Robert, Ozioma Paul, Pauline Kimani, Veronique Griffith and Victoria Uka. It has been an eventful year for them. In this article, we share their experiences and highlights.

For Korry Robert, a third-year PhD student in the Department of Criminology, a major highlight of the event was the workshop held in Hinckley. Ozioma Paul, a fourth-year PhD student in the Business School, shares the same highlight. The event provided an opportunity to connect with others with similar lived experiences outside the University, especially in navigating academia. It also posted a sense of community, breaking through the isolation many Black women in academia feel as they are often the sole representative voices within their academic circles, maybe their departments, offices, or conferences.

As Korry beautifully puts it, “While we each have our journeys to work, there are many shared pitstops along the way. Acknowledging these shared experiences allows us to learn from and build on each other’s paths, potentially avoiding the pitfalls others have encountered before us”. This sense of shared experiences and the community it fosters is a significant aspect of the BWPN program.

Pauline Kimani, a PhD researcher in food security had something similar to say about the BWPN community, “When I first heard about the 100 Black Women Professors Now programme, I was drawn in by its bold mission and the promise of support for Black women aiming to break barriers in academia. As a PhD student, the idea of being part of a community so deeply committed to challenging the status quo was essential. In an academic world where representation still lags, initiatives like this provide hope, guidance, and a clear path forward.”

Victoria Uka, another participant and final-year PhD student in the School of Nursing also attests to the supportive network that the BWPN program has afforded her, “In addition to these specific benefits, the 100 Black Women Now Professors Programme has provided a supportive network of fellow participants, academics, and industry professionals. The programme’s workshops, seminars, and events have enhanced my skills and knowledge and fostered a sense of belonging and empowerment within the academic community. Through these interactions, I have expanded my social capital, discovered potential research collaborations, and gained a clearer vision of my future career prospects.”

Key lessons that stood out for the participants were intentionality and proactivity about one’s career. In addition to this, Ozioma also writes,” The coaches, mentors and sponsors were instrumental sources of confidence and guidance. They made me see what was possible and that was empowering. Furthermore, they shared opportunities and gave valuable tips that I otherwise would not have stumbled upon”. Others also attested to the benefits from the coach, mentor and sponsors assigned to everyone in the program. Some of these benefits include intentionality, public speaking, knowledge about opportunities within the University and in their respective industries”.

The BWPN program’s workshops, seminars, and events have not only enhanced the participants’ skills and knowledge but also fostered a profound sense of belonging and empowerment within the academic community. These interactions have enabled the participants to expand their social capital, discover potential research collaborations, and gain a clearer vision of their future career prospects, instilling a sense of hope and inspiration.

The participants of the third cohort of the BWPN program are indeed grateful. They deeply appreciate the support they have received and truly hope for continued backing from the University. Their hope is that more Black Women can find the community and needed support to thrive within the University and academia, a testament to the value they place on the program and its impact.

Authors and cohort of 2024:

• Korry Robert, a third-year PhD student in the Department of Criminology
• Ozioma Paul, a fourth-year PhD student in the Business School
• Pauline Kimani, a third year PhD student in Environmental Engineering.
• Victoria Uka, a final-year PhD student in the Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work.
• Anyssa Navrer-Agasson, Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Physics
• Veronique Griffith, Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Healthcare Sciences

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