Dear Higher Education: Letters from the Social Justice Mountain

I'm the One and Only for Now, But I Will Not Be the Last

Catherine Ma

City University of New York

Abstract

My letter centers on the rage of being the only Chinese full psychology professor in my college and finding my voice to overcome my imposter syndrome. In doing so,  I channeled my angry Chinese woman vibes to change things that I thought were unchangeable. I want others in similar situations to understand how making visible the rage and supporting the voices of those surviving in academia can be useful tools to thrive in the same hostile environments that have killed or pushed out many professors of color. Although I am currently the lonely only, I share my experiences in raising my voice to force open the boundaries that have oppressed many marginalized and minoritized professors. Sadly, the current administration has increasingly made academia a hostile work environment, with an increasing number of top-tier universities making drastic cuts to diversity initiatives. This has placed enormous stress on female professors of color. I want this letter to offer hope to others that I will not be the last lonely only because I am actively working to mentor those who come after me to make our department and college less intimidating and detrimental to our mental health. This opportunity to raise the voices of the lonely onlies seeks to combine our individual power into a united front to combat the injustices that continue to plague the ivory tower. I share my experiences to remind others that change is coming, and although change can be thwarted, it can never be stopped.