Role of Servingness-Conscious Agents: Examining Leadership Practices within Hispanic-Serving Institution Grants

Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs) face unique challenges in securing federally designated funds. These funds are integral to supporting the educational success of Latinx and low-income students. Historically, many HSIs were once predominantly White institutions that have inherited racialized structures. These structures often drive agendas of prestige, leading to a competitive struggle for legitimacy and resources. A dilemma has arisen where the competition for grants has shifted the institutional focus away from genuinely serving students towards monetizing the Latinx population for access to funds. This study delves into this complex issue by identifying leaders who actively seek to challenge the notion of monetizing and consciously strive to create equity structures through a servingness framework. These servingness-conscious agents utilize their positions in HSI grant implementation to leverage evidence of meaningful impacts rather than merely satisfying funding requirements. The insights gained from these participants shed light on the importance of being servingness-conscious when crafting programs and policies. Through a servingness-conscious lens, the study offers a nuanced understanding of leadership identity and how leaders navigate the complex tensions between competition for funds and the pursuit of equity.