Career pathways and experiences of women community college presidents

This study inquired into the experiences selected women community college presidents had on the pathway to their presidency. The study focused on women so that future women leaders might gain a better understanding of how others achieve senior-level positions at community colleges. This research employed a phenomenological approach to build on participants' first-person accounts of life experiences related to their career pathways. In-depth interviews with 14 women purposefully chosen as individuals who became community college presidents formed the basis for the data collected. The women reflected diversity in regard to how long they had served as presidents, whether the current presidency was their first, their experience in higher education administration, and the educational levels they had achieved. This study revealed that the career pathway to the presidency may be changing, at least for women. Additionally, three core themes emerged from the women's experiences that had an impact on their career pathway: their perspective and philosophies, career barriers and challenges, and the impact of influential individuals. This research adds to the body of knowledge about how women achieve a community college presidency.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor dc:publisher

Colorado State University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Authors dc:creator

• Kuharski, Renee Ann, author
• Anderson, Sharon K., advisor
• Davies, Timothy Gray, advisor

• community college
• community college presidents
• women administrators
• women presidents
• community college education
• women's studies
• school administration
• college presidents
• educational administration

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.

Language dc:language.iso

eng, English

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.25675/3.018645

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mountainscholar.org:10217/237828