Mixon, Joel2024-04-302024-04-302024-01https://hdl.handle.net/11299/262876University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. 2024. Major: Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development. Advisor: Karen Miksch. 1 computer file (PDF); 190 pages.The challenge of increasing the number of minority students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) degrees is a systemic problem. In the case of higher education, one of the main challenges also includes the retention of academically prepared minority students who are underrepresented in STEM degree programs. President Barack Obama noted “strengthening STEM education is vital to preparing our students to compete in the 21st century economy” (White House, 2010). Increased issues regarding the retention and degree completion of students from diverse backgrounds have created a STEM workforce in which certain groups remain underrepresented. Black men collegians continue to lag in enrollment and graduation rates behind their White, Asian, and Latino men counterparts in higher education. The status of Black men in higher education serves as an impetus for research to investigate collegiate experiences of Black men undergraduates and factors that facilitate retention and persistence. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions and experiences of Black men who were pursuing STEM degrees at a predominately White land grant institution with a particular focus on their advising relationships. Through the use of critical race theory and phenomenology as the methodological framework, 12 participants serving as co-investigators provided responses that created counter-stories regarding their advising relationships. The study addressed the following questions: 1) What meaning do Black men pursuing STEM degrees ascribe to their advising relationships?; 2) What do Black men in STEM consider to be complicated or uncomplicated about the advising relationship?; 3) How do Black men pursuing STEM degrees describe their role in the advising relationship?; and 4) What is the essence of a supportive advisor from the perspective of Black men pursuing STEM degrees?enThesis or Dissertation