Despite three decades of affirmative action efforts, counseling programs continue to struggle with the challenge of recruiting and retaining African American women faculty. African American women in general, and African American female professors in particular, have emerged from what Hudson-Weems (1989) terms as a tripartite form of oppression, of racism, classism, and sexism. Nonetheless, in spite of these barriers, some African American women faculty acquire tenure and promotion and achieve great strides in the academy Gregory, 1995). As counselor education programs struggle to diversify their faculty, they need to be cognizant of the interlocking effects of gender and race and its career implications for African American women professors. This article provides a starting point for understanding the career experiences of African American women counselor educators. Strategies for supporting, mentoring and retaining African American women counseling faculty will also be presented.