Students' Sense of Belonging and Involvement in College

Terrell L. Strayhorn, PhD, is professor of higher education and women’s, gender & sexuality studies at Illinois State University, where he also directs the PhD program. He is diversity scholar-in-residence at Harrisburg Area Community College, director of the Center for the Study of Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) at Virginia Union University (VUU) and visiting scholar in the VUU School of Education.Author of 12 books, including College Students’ Sense of Belonging: A Key to Educational Success for All Students (Routledge, 2012 [1st ed], 2019 [2nd ed]), and over 200 peer-reviewed journal articles, chapters, and reports, Strayhorn is arguably one of the most prolific and influential contemporary scholars in education and the academic study of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). His ground-breaking research on sense of belonging has charted new terrains in racial equity, student success, and social psychological determinants of human success.Professor Strayhorn has served

• Chapter 1: Introduction by Terrell L. StrayhornChapter 2: Generation COVID and the College Experience: Exploring the Reverberations of 2020 on Young People’s Transition and Engagement by Gabriel Velez (Marquette University), Jody Jessup-Anger (Marquette University), Max Herteen (Marquette University), and Sam Nemanich (Marquette University)Chapter 3: “I’m More than an Athlete”: Exploring Sense of Belonging in College for Black LGBTQ+ Student-Athletes by Terrell L. Strayhorn (Virginia Union University) and J’Quen Johnson (Tusculum University)Chapter 4: They Just So Happen to be Born in the Right Family: A Story of Elitism on an HBCU Campus by Jorge Burmicky (Howard University) and Kathleen Rzucidlo (Howard University)Chapter 5: Toward Beloved Communities on Campus: Understanding the Intersections of Race, Gender and Sexuality Identity in Sense of Belonging Research as a Tool for Rethinking Campus Resources by Jorge Burmicky (Howard University) and Kathleen Rzucidlo (Howard University)Chapter 6: Centering Relationships: Belongingness in the Context of Religious, Spiritual and Secular Identities, Perceptions, and Experiences by Matthew J. Mayhew (Ohio State University), Musbah Shaheen (Ohio State University), and Christa E. Winkler (Mississippi State University)Chapter 7: The Conditional Effects of Participating in a Student Organization on College Students’ Sense of Belonging by Krista M. Soria (University of Idaho), Erin Standley (University of Idaho), and Justin Braun (University of Idaho)Chapter 8: The Trifecta: The WHOLE Student Experience and Sense of Belonging at Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU’s) by Morris Thomas, Ph.D., MBA, PMP (Howard University) and Cindy Philpot, M.Ed (Howard University)Chapter 9: Black College Men with Disabilities Involvement On- and Off-Campus: Critical Insights for Policy, Practice and Future Research by Terrell L. Strayhorn and J’Quen O. JohnsonEpilogue

Terrell Strayhorn’s timely and relevant book Sense of Belonging and Involvement in College, continues to solidify his reputation as one of the world’s leading public intellectuals in education. With intellectual rigor, research sophistication, and practical wisdom, Strayhorn illuminates how belonging and involvement intersect to transform students’ lives, providing key insights essential for educators, leaders, and policymakers. This book is more than a must-read–it’s a masterful blend of incisive insights, riveting research, and promising practices that will shape scholarly discourse and institutional success for years to come.