Abstract
This qualitative study centered and elevated the experiences of nine retired Asian American 4-year university presidents. Through descriptions of each participant’s upbringing, career path, and experience as a president, this study personified and brought life to lived experiences, providing the needed space to substantiate these leaders’ extraordinary careers in academia. Grounded in the theoretical paradigms of critical race theory (CRT), Asian critical theory (AsianCrit), and phronesis—the concept of practical wisdom—this research uncovered narratives, stories, and lessons told by retirees as they advanced through administrative ranks in academia. Focused in an asset-based frame, narratives about their experiences transcend hegemonic paradigms surrounding how Asian Americans are perceived as leaders.
The findings stemming from this study establish a more comprehensive view of how participants led 4-year higher education institutions. As related to their careers and subsequent appointments as presidents, the findings of this study profoundly contradict the assertion that socially constructed leadership characteristics do not align with prescriptive Asian American stereotypes. Conversely, through their thick descriptions, participants were confirmed and validated as dynamic, engaged, and highly successful leaders. The themes of aptitude to counteract the hegemonic trope of Asianization, leading institutions through tumultuous, transitionary, and transformational times, and commitment to serve the needs of the community and region, weave the intricate tapestry of how their success is substantiated through their lived experiences as told through storytelling and documented as practical wisdom.