From first lady to madam president: a study on women leaders of public four-year institutions of higher education

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Date
2020
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Publisher
University of Alabama Libraries
Abstract

Though collegiate environments were initially closed off to women, women have held the majority on most coeducational college campuses for decades (Schwartz, 1997). Yet, they are still less likely to serve as presidents of large, public, four-year research institutions. The college presidency has become more diverse in recent years. According to a 2017 American Council of Education report, only 23 percent of public doctoral degree-granting four-year institutions were led by women as of 2016 (2017). The impacts of the delayed entry of women as active participants in the field of higher education have continued to yield gender discrepancies in leadership. In the beginning of higher education in America, women were participants in higher education in order to support of their husbands (Williams, 2007). As first ladies, or spouses to college presidents and leaders, women were granted power solely by way of their connections and access to men in power. Women have continued to establish their own professional and academic credibility while achieving leadership positions in higher education. Yet, there is still a need to gain a better understanding of ways women can be seen as effective leaders in the field of public higher education, particularly given the rarity of a woman serving as president of public, four-year institutions. A constructivist case study methodology was used in this study to explore the careers of women who have served as presidents of public, four-year, research focused, institutions. This research examined how women have overcome the double binds associated with serving in leadership positions at public post-secondary institutions to become presidents of public, four-year institutions. This case study also examined the experiences of women who have served in the role of college president and their personal narratives detailing how they have navigated their careers to reach the position.

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Electronic Thesis or Dissertation
Keywords
Higher education administration
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