Date of Award
Fall 9-8-2025
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Education
First Advisor
Katherine Cho
Abstract
This dissertation explores the lived workplace experiences of non academic middle managers at community colleges, a group often overlooked in higher education research. Using a phenomenological approach, this study draws on semi-structured interviews with eleven directors and managers to highlight how these professionals navigate their campus environments, operational demands, and student needs. Framed by Max Weber’s theory of bureaucracy, the findings underscore the dual roles middle managers play, as organizational lynchpins and leaders and as advocates for students, all while operating within constrained organizational structures. Key themes include varied levels of institutional knowledge, differential access to professional development, and constrained agency. The research contributes to limited scholarship on community college staff by documenting how middle managers experience their workplace.
Recommended Citation
Salazar, Mason, "Understanding Middle Managers in Community Colleges" (2025). Dissertations. 4226.
https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_diss/4226
