The Strategies and Struggles of Graduate Diversity Officers in the Recruitment of Doctoral Students of Color

The growing heterogeneity of American society is increasingly reflected in the undergraduate student population, yet there has been less change within graduate education. As graduate education is the pipeline to the professoriate, we must have a better understanding of how to promote institutional change toward greater graduate diversity. This qualitative study of 14 graduate diversity officers (GDOs) across 11 research universities provides insight into efforts universities can make to increase graduate diversity and foster institutional change. Findings suggest promising practices, including integrated recruitment efforts that reflect a strong commitment to diversity at both the institutional and departmental level. Faculty play a significant role in the change process, yet could also be a limiting factor due to inconsistent commitments to diversity and institutional change.