"The range and depth of topics this book explores are groundbreaking and insightful. There is no doubt that, when the topic of Black women in higher education is explored, this book will be one of the first to be highlighted. There will not be many other books to compare with the sheer range of necessary topics related to the issues facing Black women explored here. This volume brings an air of freshness and excitement to this topic."---from the Foreword by Kassie Freeman -- "The authors brilliantly illuminate the steadfastness of young Black women as they progress from high school through graduate school. The book's focus on lessons learned from successes and challenges will make the educational process much more manageable for future generations of African American women."---from the Afterword by Wynetta Y. Lee -- This volume illuminates the educational experiences of Black women, from their high school transition to college, to graduate school, and through doctoral degree attainment, by exploring their commonalities, successes, and challenges. The chapters of this volume newly identify key factors and experiences that shape Black women's engagement or disengagement with higher education. -- The original research presented here - using an array of theoretical lenses, as well as qualitative and quantitative methods - not only deepens our understanding of the experiences of African American women in the academy, but also seeks to strengthen the academic pipeline, not only for the benefit of those who may have felt disenfranchised in the past, but also for all students in the educational pipeline. --Book Jacket.