The Colors of Excellence: Hiring and Keeping Teachers of Color in Independent Schools. (2003). Pearl Rock Kane and Alfonso J.Orsini (Eds.). Teachers College Press. 161 pp., $19.95. ISBN 0-8077-4282-1.

Review by: William Egelman

Department of Sociology

Iona College

Attracting and retaining professionals from minority group populations are issues faced by many educational institutions, but they may be particularly important for offices of academic advising. As student populations become more diverse, the need to develop a diverse professional advising staff may become more critical. The presence of advisors of color is important for all, not just for students of color.

This book is the result of a study sponsored by The Altman Foundation regarding ways independent schools can attract and retain teachers of color. Therefore, the specific data discussed within the research articles may have limited value in application to larger populations. However, some of the larger issues discussed in this brief volume will be of value to academic advisors, especially directors of offices of advising.

The academe's difficulty in attracting persons of color to faculty and staff positions is one of the issues addressed. The relatively low socioeconomic status of persons of color is among the factors that may limit participation of persons of color in teaching and academic advising. It limits their opportunities to achieve the higher levels of education required of academic professionals, and for those who attain the higher levels of education, it limits the greater opportunities for higher status positions.

The use of the term "persons of color" is problematic because the editors combine Latino Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans into this category. Each group, and even subgroups within each, such as Cuban Americans and Puerto Rican Americans, has different educational and occupational patterns. For example, strategies needed to recruit and retain a Chinese American academic advisor may be somewhat different than doing the same for a Mexican American advisor.

This problem aside, contributors provide useful ideas for diversifying professional staffs. The emerging themes section (pp. 91-100) is particularly useful as core themes that need to be considered in the process of diversification are cited:

While the editors do not deal directly with academic advising, they offer some interesting insights into how advisors can develop strategies to attract and retain professionals from minority group populations.