Beyond Predominantly White Institution Perspectives: An Afro-Latina Black Culture Center Director’s Journey in Supporting Afro-Latinidad

Abstract

This chapter explores the intersections of identity, leadership, and institutional context through the author’s lens as an Afro-Latina director of a Black Culture Center (BCC) at a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). Using Applied Critical Leadership with a Black feminist orientation, the author reflects on how her multiple identities shape her leadership philosophy and advocacy for Afro-Latinx students within an institutional culture that often overlooks Black experiences. The chapter critiques the myth of inclusivity within HSIs, arguing that servingness must extend to all racialized populations. By blending theory and praxis, it highlights the role of cultural center directors as change agents who challenge anti-Blackness, affirm intersectional identities, and expand the meaning of “serving” in higher education.