Doctoral Candidate Brochure: Bianka M. Hausknecht

Doctoral Dissertation Defense
of
Bianka M. Hausknecht

For the degree of

Doctor of Education
Interprofessional Leadership

From Bias to Belonging: Promoting Well-Being and Inclusion in Higher Education

October 9, 2025
2:30 p.m.
Microsoft Teams
Meeting ID: 219 391 077 633 5 
Passcode: Gs7e6oU3

From Bias to Belonging: Promoting Well-Being and Inclusion in Higher Education

The purpose of this study is to explore how BIPOC staff experience higher education workplaces, with particular attention to how discrimination, bias, and microaggressions shape their wellbeing. Guided by Racialized Organization Theory, the study examined how participants interact with support systems and what recommendations they have for strengthening institutional responses. 

Participants included seven staff members who shared their perspectives through one-on-one interviews, and three of those staff later took part in a follow-up focus group. They described challenges such as inconsistent access to support, limited recognition of their contributions, and the emotional labor of navigating predominantly white institutions. At the same time, participants identified environments and practices that fostered a greater sense of care, belonging, and organizational health. 

Findings suggest that while informal support networks provide important relief, they cannot substitute for consistent institutional structures. The study highlights the need for policies and practices that actively recognize the contributions of BIPOC staff and create systems of accountability that reduce minority stressors and promote well-being.