St. John’s University School of Education
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Administration and Leadership
May 2023 — Queens, New York
Dissertation: The Role of Mentorship in the Advancement of Black Women in Higher Education Administrative Roles
The College of New Rochelle, School of Counseling
Master of Science (M.S.)
January 2015 — New York, New York
The College of New Rochelle, School of New Resources
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
May 2011 — New York, New York
Kimberly A. Colclough is a Brooklyn-born educator, researcher, and advocate specializing in the intersectionality of race, gender, and education. Her work centers on mentorship and leadership development for Black women in higher education.
Dr. Colclough earned her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in Higher Education Leadership and Administration from St. John’s University in 2023. Her dissertation, titled “The Role of Mentorship in the Advancement of Black Women in Higher Education Administrative Roles,” utilized Black feminist thought as a theoretical framework to explore the lived experiences of Black women administrators. The study highlighted the pivotal role mentorship plays in their professional and leadership development, despite facing systemic challenges.
Currently, Dr. Colclough serves as a counselor in the SEEK (Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge) program at New York City College of Technology (City Tech) and is an adjunct professor in the Africana Studies department at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She is also affiliated with the City University of New York (CUNY), where she contributes to initiatives aimed at fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education.
Beyond her academic roles, Dr. Colclough is an advocate for dismantling barriers to access and creating inclusive environments that empower marginalized communities. Her research and professional endeavors continue to influence the discourse on equity and leadership in higher education.
For more information on Dr. Colclough’s work and contributions, you can visit her Google Scholar profile.
AFR 145 - Introduction to Community Justice
AFR 227 - Community-Based Approaches to Justice
AFR 315 - Practicing Community-based Justice in the Africana World
American Educational Research Association (AERA)
New York Academy of Public Education
Adelaide L. Sanford Institute
American Counseling Association (ACA)
Colclough, K. (2023). The Role of Mentorship in the Advancement of Black Women in Higher Education Leadership Roles. NYAPE Research Journal.
Colclough, K. (2023). Chapter in Pursuing Equity and Success for Marginalized Educational Leaders.
Kimberly Colclough’s research critically examines the intersections of race, gender, and leadership within higher education, with a particular focus on the experiences of Black women administrators. Grounded in Black feminist thought, her work explores how mentorship serves as a vital mechanism for empowerment, professional growth, and navigating systemic challenges such as imposter syndrome and microaggressions.
Her dissertation study, “The Role of Mentorship in the Advancement of Black Women in Higher Education Administrative Roles,” provides a nuanced analysis of the lived experiences of Black women in academic leadership, highlighting both barriers and resilience strategies. Dr. Colclough’s scholarship extends beyond qualitative research to inform policies and practices that foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic institutions.
In addition to her work on mentorship and leadership, Dr. Colclough engages with themes of educational access, social justice, and the cultivation of supportive networks for marginalized communities in higher education. Her research contributes to ongoing dialogues on creating inclusive environments that enable equitable career advancement for underrepresented groups.