The USC Race and Equity Center has released a new report, titled Supporting While Marginalized: Racial Realities of Student Affairs Professionals, uncovering the pervasive racial challenges faced by student affairs professionals in U.S. higher education institutions. While student affairs professionals work tirelessly to support students, many are doing this work while enduring racism, exclusion, and institutional neglect themselves.

The report draws on data from 1,992 professionals across 73 colleges and universities who completed the National Assessment ofCollegiate Campus Climates (NACCC) Staff Survey between 2021 and 2023. The findings illuminate the disconnect between the vital student-facing work that student affairs staff perform and the racially hostile and unsupported environments many of them endure while doing it.

The report shows that racism is a routine workplace reality. Nearly 60% of respondents witnessed racism on their campuses in the past year, and one in three experienced it directly—with rates highest among Black, Asian, and multiracial staff. The toll is not just professional but deeply personal: more than 70% reported frustration, and a significant proportion shared declines in mental health due to racialized workplace dynamics.

The findings also shed light on widespread disillusionment and distrust. While half of white staff reported confidence in their institution’s commitment to diversity, only 30% of Black staff and 35% of Asian staff said the same. Staff of color were also more likely to feel excluded from decision-making, unsupported by supervisors, and overlooked for advancement.

“This report offers a look at the racialized conditions under which student affairs professionals are expected to support students. Despite being tasked with leading equity initiatives and supporting increasingly diverse student populations, student affairs professionals—especially those of color—continue to experience racism and neglect in the workplace.” said Rodolfo Núñez. “It’s a call to action for institutions to not only value this labor rhetorically but to structurally support the professionals carrying out the work on the ground.”

These findings come at a critical moment, as DEI efforts face increasing political attacks across the country. As institutions attempt to maintain their commitments amid shifting legal and cultural landscapes, this report offers actionable insights and urgent imperatives. From strengthening reporting mechanisms to ensuring transparent advancement pathways, the recommendations outline concrete ways colleges and universities can embed equity into the core of their operations.

Supporting While Marginalized serves as a data-rich resource and a compelling reminder that racial equity in higher education must extend beyond students. Without institutional responsibility for addressing the workplace realities of student affairs professionals, institutions risk losing those very individuals most central to fostering inclusive and effective learning environments.

Read the report here.