New Report Reimagines Leadership through Self-Advocacy, Networks, & Feedback
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jacinda Nembhard | Jacinda.nembhard@gse.rutgers.edu | 848-932-0774
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., October 28, 2025 –The Samuel Dewitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity, and Justice (Proctor Institute) has released a new report, titled “Reimagining Leadership through Self-Advocacy, Networks, & Feedback.” The publication explores the unique experiences of women of color in the workplace, the systemic barriers beneath the surface, and pathways for change.
For decades, there has been discourse about the mistreatment of women of color in the workplace. Post COVID-19, organizations worldwide were engaging in conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion(DEI), and faced pressure to address these systemic disparities in the workforce. While some progress was made, today we’re seeing those organizations roll back on their promise. “These irrevocable shifts are unfolding alongside rapid technological advancement and growing organizational distrust, raising new inquiries about effective strategies, leadership, and performance in these uncertain times,” said Joanna Jenkins, co-author of the report and leadership consultant.
Drawing from recent research and in-depth interviews, the report offers strategies to address these systemic disparities in the workforce. “Practices that support access and empowerment are better for everyone. When workplaces center the needs of the most marginalized, organizations become healthier, creative, and effective overall,” said Marybeth Gasman, co-author of the report and Samuel DeWitt Proctor Endowed Chair in Education at Rutgers University. “The insights in this report offer individual strategies for advancement, tools for more collaborative professional relationships, and a collective blueprint for reimagining organizational culture.”
The report aims to continue and expand conversations on leadership and the evolving and intersectional needs of women of color in the workplace to further personal growth, professional development, and organizational advancements.
You can read the full report here.
About the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity, and Justice
The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity, and Justice (Proctor Institute) is a national center that focuses on issues of leadership, equity, and justice within the context of higher education. It brings together researchers, practitioners, and community members to work toward the common goals of diversifying leadership, enhancing equity, and fostering justice for all. The Proctor Institute is located at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, in the Graduate School of Education nd, and houses the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions (CMSI). For more information about the Proctor Institute, please visit https://proctor.gse.rutgers.edu/.
