Women Administrators in North Carolina Higher Education

Follow us on Twitter

2010-10-14T13:41:00.001-04:00

Most Popular College Majors For Women

2010-08-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

Watch out, liberal arts. Business ranks No. 1. ... "According to the most recent American Freshman survey, conducted annually by the University of California, Los Angeles, undergraduates' chief objective in life is to be financially well-off. For this new crop of college students, attaining wealth ranks higher than raising a family and becoming an authority in their chosen field. Moreover, they listed their primary factor in choosing a school program as whether the graduates get good jobs." Read more of this article by Jenna Goudreau.

Sexism is Alive and Well in Your Workplace

2010-08-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

"This summer, as in the past, I have taken my daughter to work with me several times. My wife pointed out the difference in co-workers' perceptions when I do it versus when she takes our 9-year-old to work. (We're both college professors, so it's not a terrible inconvenience to have a kid playing on a computer while we write and analyze data in our offices). But, when I take my daughter to work, many people think it's cute. When my wife does it, it's "inappropriate" (as in "Why can't that woman manage her childcare situation?"). It started me thinking about other forms of pervasive sexism that occur regularly in the workplace." Read more of this article by Ronald E. Riggio, Ph.D. in Psychology Today.

Tips to Organize Your Work Life for Best Results

2010-08-09T08:00:00.001-04:00

No one at the end of her life ever wishes she had spent more time at work. Yet most of us are furiously treading water just trying to cope with our rapidly expanding workloads.

To help manage the onslaught of information hitting us from all sides, a quartet of women from the University of Wisconsin-Madison offered some useful organizational tips during a presentation at the UW-Madison Women and Leadership Symposium held on campus in June. Read more of this article posted on the Women in Higher Education website.

Women Create New Rules for Campus Leadership

2010-08-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

"Speaking to a group of women who are earnest about developing their leadership makes Pat Alea feel high as a kite. She expected 40 or 50 women to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s second annual Women and Leadership Symposium in June, not the 300 who registered.

As keynote speaker for the event and one who’s worked on women’s issues for 35 years, she was delighted to address so many women claiming their authority.

“It’s a sidebar to the rest of my life,” Alea told WIHE. She has a private consulting practice in leadership, strategic planning and transition, chairs the Wisconsin chapter of the Women Presidents’ Organization and is a founder and co-manager of the annual Women’s Executive Leadership Summit in Madison WI. All of her activities promote women and their capacity to change the culture.

Rules for women’s leadership are changing. The old-old rules were to keep your mouth shut and defer to men. Most women have grown beyond that, though some organizations remain stuck there." Read more from the Women in Higher Education website.

In Her Own Words: Moving Heaven and Earth: Black Women in Admin Searches

2010-08-04T13:08:00.000-04:00

Historically, those who have been deemed "comfortable" do not look like an African American woman, or anyone of color. "Will all of the qualified African American women PLEASE STAND UP?” Administrative search and selection committees would have us believe that if this question were asked in a room full of female African American professionals, only a handful would actually respond by standing. Read more of this blog post by Dr. Kim R. Barnett-Johnson.

Why women leaders are MIA from academic life

2010-08-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

"I never doubted I'd "do-it-all." But the work-family conundrum took on new meaning for me several years ago when, in the middle of teaching a psychology course, I received a message that my oldest had been in an accident at school.

Not to worry, I was told: he was fine and in good hands. Steeling myself against maternal instincts, I continued teaching. Ironically, the day's topic was work and family. Then came the second message: "Your son looks worse than originally reported." Careful not to reveal the frazzled mother bubbling beneath my professorial exterior, I calmly excused myself, then frantically rushed my six-year-old to the E.R. with a head injury and concussion. He recovered faster than me."

Read more of this article by Tovah Klein from The Washington Post.

ACE: Save the Date

2010-08-03T08:00:00.001-04:00

Save the Date! Join ACE as they convene senior higher education leaders from across the nation March 5-8, 2011, in Washington, DC. Join ACE as they build on their legacy of leadership and advocacy to help American higher education reach higher. Hear from your colleagues about why they attend and value the Annual Meeting.

Do Your Job Better: How to Run a Meeting

2010-07-30T12:43:00.001-04:00

We all have experienced interminable meetings: the hourlong meeting to accomplish 10 minutes' worth of work, or the meeting that seems to have no purpose. Whether on the department level or the larger institutional level, inefficiently run meetings consume inordinate amounts of our time and energy. Read more of this article by Gary A. Olson in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Women's Center Director, Xavier University

2010-07-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

Women's Studies/Affairs: Women's Center Director. Xavier University, a coeducational university in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition located in Cincinnati, Ohio is seeking a Director for its Women's Center. The Director, reporting to the Associate Provost for Student Life and Leadership, will be a creative and innovative professional with demonstrated leadership skills and a collaborative style. The Director will be expected to provide programs and services to empower women and engage the University community in working toward equity across gender and other categories of identity. The Women's Center mission is to provide advocacy and resources, awareness and educational programming, and promote research focusing on women, girls, and gender in an effort to unite people in centering women. Programs and services will also assist students in addressing contemporary issues confronting them. The Women's Center challenges gender inequities based on social, political, and economic factors and seeks to honor the contributions and experiences of people of all ages, classes, races, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, ethnic origins, cultures, and spiritual or religious beliefs. The Women's Center works through the united efforts of students, faculty, staff, alums, and community partners. Qualifications: master's degree in women's or gender studies or related field (doctorate preferred); 5 years of progressive administrative experience, with at least two years in an area that directly addresses gender and social justice-related programs; awareness and ability to articulate multiple feminist perspectives; a demonstrated commitment to effect women's equity and social justice and understanding of the dynamics of power, privilege and oppression; program planning and organizational skills, excellent communication and team-building skills; and intercultural competencies. To learn more about Xavier University, you may refer to our Web site at http://www.xavier.edu. To ensure consideration, application material must be submitted by Friday, August 6, 2010. Interested/qualified applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, and names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of three professional references to: Ms. Connie Perme, Xavier University, 3800 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45207-5400 or e-mail to hr@xavier.edu. EO/AAE.

See the full listing on The Chronicle of Higher Education's website.

Diversity = Innovation

2010-07-22T12:57:00.002-04:00

"Does diversity in a student body increase the quality and value of the education? Rutgers University-Newark Chancellor Steve Diner has done the research and is convinced of it." Read more of this article in DiversityInc magazine.

Center for Women Announces the Ruth Strang Research Award

2010-07-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

The NASPA Center for Scholarship, Research, and Professional Development for Women (Center for Women) announces the Ruth Strang Research Award, which will recognize individuals for outstanding contributions to the body of literature concerning women in higher education. This award encourages high-quality research related to women in higher education and seeks to promote research by, for, and about women. Submissions may be unpublished articles, academic papers, or portfolios that show strong scholarship and address topics relevant to the education of women and their personal and professional development.

The Center for Women named this award in honor of Dr. Ruth Strang (1895-1971), author, educator, and recipient of the 1977 NASPA Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Literature of Higher Education, which she received posthumously for her commitment to the advancement of women in higher education and student affairs.

The winner will receive a cash award, a plaque to be presented at the Center for Women reception at the NASPA Annual Conference, and consideration for publication in the NASPA Journal About Women in Higher Education.

Read more about the entrant requirements, submission process, and evaluation process.

Job Opportunity: President, Mills College

2010-07-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

The Board of Trustees of Mills College, a private, liberal arts college for women, with graduate programs for women and men, located in Oakland, California, has announced the search for its 13th President. The board invites nominations and written expressions of interest for this exciting senior leadership opportunity to head a proud and ambitious institution, renowned for its longstanding dedication to women's education, for the academic excellence of its programs, for its distinguished faculty and their numerous academic achievements, for the quality and increasing selectivity of students, and for the accomplishments and commitment of their dedicated alumnae/i. Read more about this job opportunity.

Job Opportunity: Director, Office of Women's Programs

2010-07-12T08:00:00.001-04:00

Posting: July 6, 2010
Organization: Colorado State University
Job Title: Director, Office of Women's Programs
Position Description: The Office of Women’s Programs provides services and programs with women or gender as a focus for the CSU campus. This office is anticipating a name change to better reflect populations served and programs and services offered. Programs concentrate on examining the intersections of oppression and creating conditions that allow for all people to share safely and equally in the opportunities and resources provided by CSU. Read more about this opportunity.

Coming Home - Deborah Yow

2010-06-30T14:09:00.002-04:00

Deborah A. Yow has been named director of athletics at North Carolina State University. Chancellor Randy Woodson made the announcement at a Friday afternoon press conference at Vaughn Towers.

Yow, 58, younger sister of the late Kay Yow who coached NC State women’s basketball for 34 years, comes to NC State after 16 years as director of athletics at the University of Maryland. Under Yow’s leadership, Maryland teams have won 20 national championships and consistently graduated student-athletes — with the upcoming Federal graduation rate report reflecting an all-time high of 80 percent. Read more of the NC State press release.

Distinguished Women and How They Lead

2010-06-28T08:00:00.001-04:00

Last Friday, I attended the Institute for Community College Development (ICCD) Leadership Tools for Women conference at Hudson Valley Community College. The event brought together more than 100 women who work in higher education and wish to heighten their understanding of the issues facing women as they move to assume leadership roles in their institutions. ICCD provides leadership programming for CEOs, administrators, faculty, and trustees in the State University of New York system’s 30 community colleges and to employees at schools in surrounding states and beyond. Read more of this blog post by katefarrar.

The 7 Facets of a Healthy Career

2010-06-25T08:00:00.000-04:00

Career Fitness is based on a controversial idea. Its core tenant is that a healthy career depends upon seven facets of activity, not one. It acknowledges that in today's highly competitive and increasingly unpredictable job market, survival -- let alone prosperity -- requires that we attend to more than our expertise in our occupational field. Read more.

Advancing to the Presidency: A Workshop on Successful Presidential Search and Transition

2010-06-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

Becoming a college or university CEO requires a keen understanding of oneself and the search process, and a solid game plan for transitioning into the position. As part of ACE's commitment to leadership development, we present Advancing to the Presidency: A Workshop on Successful Presidential Search and Transition, an opportunity for senior administrators who will be seeking a presidency within the next two years.

Read more about this professional development opportunity offered by ACE.

Deadline to apply: July 15th.

Women’s Colleges Shift Gaze to Less Well-Off

2010-06-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

"CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — Tucked among mansions in this affluent Boston suburb, Pine Manor College was long a finishing school, a place for well-heeled women to receive an education and for Ivy League men to find wives — earning it the pejorative nickname “Pine Mattress.” Photographs around campus show alumnae clad in white gloves, pearls and shirtwaist dresses.

“It was an acceptable place to send your daughter,” said Nia Lane Chester, dean of the college.

But quietly and deliberately, this small women’s college has undergone a radical change, from a place that sought daughters of privilege to one that recruits underprivileged women who might not otherwise enroll in college. " Read more of this article from The New York Times.

Leadership behaviors and practices among executive women of color in higher education

2010-06-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

"Higher education is steadily including more women of color in the leadership of the academy. Daily leadership challenges require campus administrators to engage and move others toward exceptional workplace performance. As such, executive women of color must handle complex campus demands and leadership challenges, particularly as they relate to academic excellence, student achievement, and resources management."

Read more of the abstract of this is dissertation by Wardell and find out how to access the full article through ProQuest.

Women's Leadership Institute 2010

2010-06-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

The Women's Leadership Institute is co-produced by ACPA, ACRL, ACUA, ACUHO-I, ACUI, APPA, ASCA, NACA, NACAS, NACUBO, NAEP, and NASPA.

Core Competencies: Communications, Fiscal Management, Human Resource Development, Intercultural Proficiency, Leadership, Management, Planning

Dec. 5 – Dec. 8, 2010
Ritz-Carleton, Amelia Island, Fla.

From the conference's website ...

"If you can participate in only one educational program this year, this is the one! Be a part of a special program for women seeking to become leaders in higher education administration and student affairs. Coproduced by more than nine higher education associations, this unique program will bring together administrators from across campus functions to help you:

Hone your leadership skills for working in a rapidly changing environment
Develop a better understanding of the campus as a workplace and culture
Share experiences with others about how campuses are adapting and adjusting to the new reality
Create new personal networks and networking skills to better tap the higher education community

Through presentations, small-group exercises, and discussion, you will gain a practical understanding of what it takes to be a leader on a college or university campus—both the challenges and the rewards. Examine the unique roles, skills, and relationships needed to lead as higher education faces and deals with the most challenging period in 50 years."

Find out more about the conference.

Leadership, Diversity and Succession Planning in Academia

2010-06-17T08:00:00.001-04:00

This paper is a preview of a chapter in an upcoming book titled Clark Kerr’s University of California: Leadership, Diversity and Planning in Higher Education.

"Although academia is becoming more like business in many respects--not all of them positive--it has not borrowed one of the best attributes of business culture: its tradition of developing leadership through succession planning. As a result, much talent is underutilized. This includes, most prominently, that of women and minorities, who tend not to be perceived as leadership material. ..."

Read more of this paper by Cristina González, University of California, Davis.

Getting Yourself Ready for Administrative Advancement

2010-06-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

"Some readers may have had a recent opportunity to play a leadership role -- chairing a committee, serving in an interim administrative position, setting up or running a new academic program -- and found that they liked it. Others may have been candidates in administrative searches but may have failed to get an offer or may not have accepted an offer, so the job search continues. Still others may simply sense that they want to move up in administration but not know how to get started." Read more of this Advice column by Jean Dowdall in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Imagining the Future of Leadership: Can She Lead?

2010-06-14T16:42:00.000-04:00

The nomination of Elena Kagan as the 112th Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court marked a high point for aspiring women leaders. If she's confirmed, Ms. Kagan will be just the fourth female justice in Supreme Court history, highlighting the scarcity of women in key leadership roles.

Stories like this remain few and far between. How can we replicate her story to foster greater gender balance among the leaders shaping our world? Is our society ready to embrace this change? Read more.

Developing the Leadership Skills of Women in Higher Education

2010-06-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

Looking to develop your leadership skills? ACE developed this list of opportunities for leadership development in higher education. These programs and opportunities aim to enhance the skills and knowledge necessary to move into mid- and senior-level positions. Review the list.

ACE Hosts Roundtable on Women’s Leadership for the 21st Century

2010-06-09T08:00:00.000-04:00

More than two dozen college and university presidents and higher education association leaders gathered at the American Council on Education (ACE) at the end of May to discuss strategies aimed at increasing the number of women in top leadership positions in higher education.

“Moving the Needle: Developing a 21st Century Agenda for Women’s Leadership” was part of ACE’s Spectrum Initiative, a multi-year national agenda designed to diversify and broaden executive leadership talent in higher education. The May 18 event was hosted by ACE’s Office of Women in Higher Education and the Center for Advancement of Racial and Ethnic Equity. Read more.

No-frills education

2010-06-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

Question: How would you assess the leadership of college presidents in embracing new technology and innovative teaching techniques aimed at reducing costs, improving quality and reengineering higher education? What leadership steps would you recommend for them?

Read the response written by Marie C. Wilson, founder and president of The White House Project, co-creator of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work ® Day and author of Closing the Leadership Gap: Why Women Can and Must Help Run the World.

For women, it's really lonely at the top

2010-06-07T08:00:00.001-04:00

Forty-five years after the women's movement started, women are finally penetrating upper most roles in business, government, and non-profit arenas. But progress hasn't charged ahead at the rate expected, nor have women reached top levels without forfeit or compromise.

Many young women look at the Elena Kagans of the world and wonder, can a woman today thrive in all parts of her life? Does having a big career mean sidestepping a family life, and conversely, does leaving the workplace lead to career suicide? Read more of this article from The Washington Post.

Conference - Beyond the Glass Ceiling

2010-06-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

The first conference on “Women Academics Beyond the Glass Ceiling: Women Rectors across Europe” was organized and hosted by Istanbul Technical University on 11th of November 2008. In that conference attendees shared experiences and developed new ideas to improve the conditions for women academics to remove the barriers for horizontal and vertical segregation.

The second conference was recently held on 12-14 April 2010 at Istanbul Technical University.

Review the program and some of the conference proceedings, by visiting their website and clicking on the names of presentations.

Recession may cut into femail college advantage

2010-06-01T12:06:00.002-04:00

Since the late 1970s there have been more women than men attending college, and a new report expects the gap to grow over the next ten years. But it’s possible the recession may alter that dynamic. Read more of this article from The Wall Street Journal.

Quinnipiac's female athletes granted class action status

2010-06-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

BRIDGEPORT -- The discrimination case brought against Quinnipiac University by female athletes got bigger Monday.

U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill made it a class action case ruling that "all present, prospective and future female students at Quinnipiac University who have been harmed by and want to end" sex discrimination in the allocation of athletic opportunities, financial assistance or benefits provided to varsity athletes may seek to join the case. Read more.

Degrees of Difficulty: Brandon Krapf

2010-05-28T12:42:00.000-04:00

This is Day 5's installment of USA's week-long feature "Degrees of Difficulty": Hear Brandon's story and the challenges he faces as a non-traditional college student.

Degrees of Difficulty: Charnee Ball

2010-05-27T07:17:00.002-04:00

This is Day 4's installment of USA's week-long feature "Degrees of Difficulty": Hear Charnee's story and the challenges shefaces as a non-traditional college student.

Degrees of Difficulty: Dennis Medina

2010-05-26T12:58:00.003-04:00

This is Day 3's installment of USA's week-long feature "Degrees of Difficulty": Hear Dennis's story and the challenges he faces as a non-traditional college student.

Degrees of Difficulty: Shane Burrows

2010-05-25T10:11:00.003-04:00

This is Day 2's installment of USA's week-long feature "Degrees of Difficulty": Hear Shane's story and the challenges he faces as a non-traditional college student.

Degrees of Difficulty: Introduction and Kathyrn McCormick

2010-05-24T12:37:00.006-04:00

"What comes to mind when you hear "college student"? To many Americans, it's someone who goes to college straight from high school, lives in a dorm, and gets a degree four years later.

But things have changed. Three-fourths of today's students no longer fit that traditional model. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, about half of today's students are financially independent; 49% are enrolled part-time; 38% work full time; 27% have dependents of their own. Almost half — 12 million — attend two-year community colleges rather than four-year schools."

Read more from USA Today's week-long video series about people who are veterans, single parents, full-time workers — and students, too.

New president for Montgomery College

2010-05-24T08:00:00.001-04:00

After a five month nationwide search, officials at Montgomery College announced Tuesday that they have selected DeRionne P. Pollard, currently the president at Las Positas College in Livermore, Ca. to be the campus' new president. Read more at The Washington Post or on Montgomery College's website.

A Toolkit for Women Seeking a Raise

2010-05-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

Even now, when women represent half the work force, they’re still paid considerably less than men — and part of that pay gap may be a result of what happens at the salary negotiation table.

That’s assuming that women make it to the table, since research shows that they are less likely to ask for raises. Even when they do, their requests may be perceived as overly demanding or less agreeable. Read more.

Grandma earns college degree at age 94 in California

2010-05-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

OAKLAND (AP) — It's never too late to earn your college degree. Just ask 94-year-old Hazel Soares.

The San Leandro woman was one of about 500 students to pick up diplomas Saturday during a commencement ceremony at Mills College, an Oakland liberal arts college for women that also offers coed graduate programs.

"It's taken me quite a long time because I've had a busy life," said Soares. "I'm finally achieving it, and it makes me feel really good." Read more.

Helping Black Women to Navigate Troubled Waters

2010-05-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

African American women at predominantly white colleges and universities are parched for support and validation that what they're experiencing is real.

When Christina Davis was in her first year as assistant director of residential life at the predominantly white University of Vermont, a game of Capture the Flag raised problems at a camp for resident assistants (RAs). Capture the Flag can get rough and physical. Afterward a white RA complained that black graduate student Daphne Wells had attacked her. Read more.

Roundtable of Presidential Women

2010-05-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

Selma Botman, Joyce Hedlund, and Allyson Handley are in charge of three Maine institutions for many reasons: vision, for starters.

There are far too many female college and university presidents to interview in one Maine Ahead Roundtable. Beyond the three featured this month, other Maine college presidents who also happen to be women include Danielle Ripich of University of New England; Cynthia Huggins, UMaine, Machias; Theo Kalikow, UMaine, Farmington; Barbara Woodlee, Kennebec Valley Community College; Berri Kramer, Heartwood College of Art; plus Sue McCulloch, director of UMaine’s Hutchinson Center.

We chose to speak with these three presidential women for several reasons. Read more.

American Council on Education’s Office of Higher Education (OWHE) - April Newsletter

2010-05-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

Topics in the April newsletter from the Office of Higher Education include a message from the Executive Board Chair, editor's notes from Dr. Cynthia Smith Forrest, a listing of upcoming events, and articles titled:

"Silo Crossings"
"New Jersey ACE Netowrk 2009 Fall Conference on Social Networking"
"Career and Leadership Development through Academic Coaching,"
"New Study: Females on Academic Boards of Trustees: Slow But Steady Progress"
"On a Mission: HERS and the ACE Office of Women in Higher Education"
"Book Review: Susan Madsen's On Becoming a Womean Leader: Learning from the Experiences of University Presidents"
"Seizing Opportunities Along the Way"
"Interview with Irma Garcia: Director of Athletics, St. Francis College, NY"

Read the newsletter.

Mills Students and Alumnae Commemorate a Victory for Women-Only Education

2010-05-11T08:12:00.000-04:00

Twenty years ago, they made educational history. The students at Mills College in Oakland revolted against the administration's decision to go coed. The women chanted, they blockaded buildings, they argued their case on television talk shows and they helped produce financial plans for the school's future. Read more from the LA Times.

Dismissed Professor Sues Columbia College Chicago for $15-Million-Plus

2010-05-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

A chemist who has received international recognition for her work in science education is suing Columbia College Chicago for $15-million in connection with the decision to dismiss her and ban her from campus last October. The suit alleges discrimination, defamation, breach of contract, and other harms. Read more from The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Debra Townsley selected as Peace College's 10th president

2010-05-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

RALEIGH, N.C. - The Peace College Board of Trustees has announced that Debra Townsley, Ph.D. has been named president of Peace College. Townsley will succeed Laura Carpenter Bingham who took office in 1998 and announced in September her plans to retire June 30. Read more.

A Game of Uncommon Skill: Leading the Modern College and University

2010-05-05T08:00:00.002-04:00

Book of interest:
Grappling with the needs of trustees, students, parents, academic staff, and public policymakers, today’s college and university presidents and chancellors face substantial–and risky–challenges. The author shares his insights with disarming clarity and candor. His broad experience elucidates the “uncommon skills” required to survive, and prosper, in the little-taught and rarely understood profession of university leadership. Read more on amazon.com.

Have you read this book? What did you think? Follow our blog and post a comment.

Students make a difference in the lives of young women

2010-05-03T12:54:00.003-04:00

Last April, a group of female students planned to watch the 2007 movie “Dreamgirls” on Hug High School’s campus, but instead of watching the movie, the event turned into an in-depth college discussion, and the idea for the club was born. “DreamGirls promotes education for underrepresented high school girls,” Karen Tshimanga said. “We look to inspire young women by interacting through common life experiences.” Read more from the Nevada News.

Study finds earnings disparity for women following community college education

2010-04-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

Women who receive postsecondary career and technical education are still being short-changed in their career earnings when compared with male counterparts, according to a study released online today by the Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk (JESPAR). Researchers with the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (ELPS) at Iowa State University found that women who completed community college associate degrees earn far less in business, marketing and information technology (IT) careers than men who did not complete their degrees. Read more.

Looking for professional development opportunities?

2010-04-26T09:00:00.000-04:00

In an effort to strengthen American colleges and universities, the American Council on Education offers a series of leadership and professional development programs and activities. ACE offers a number of programs for presidents, chief academic officers and other vice presidents, and college and university administrators. Visit ACE's website for a list of programs and activities.

Answering the Call: African American Women in Higher Education Leadership

2010-04-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

Although much has been written about leaders and leadership, we unfortunately know little about women, particularly minority women, who fill this particular role.

This book – the second in a series that explores women leaders in different contexts – presents the stories, and the reflections on their paths to leadership, of seven African American women. Five are, or have been, college presidents; three have devoted a good portion of their lives to leadership in higher education policy at state and/or national levels.

Read more about this book from Amazon.com.

How to be Successful at a Higher Education Interviewing and Career Services Event

2010-04-23T08:00:00.001-04:00

The Placement Exchange was created to be the definitive resource for the student affairs job placement process. Read an interview conducted by HigherEdJobs.com with three professional student affairs leaders who have chaired the 2009, 2010, and 2011 events.

Women to surpass men in advanced degrees, lag on pay

2010-04-21T08:32:00.002-04:00

Research shows that women are surpassing men in advanced degrees, but are still lagging behind in pay. Watch this news story from NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Beginning a Career in Student Affairs

2010-04-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

Read an interview conducted by HigherEdJobs.com of Dr.Lori Ressor, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success, University of Kansas and a Co-Editor of NASPA's Beginning Your Journey: A Guide for New Professionals in Student Affairs.

Fewer women finish college

2010-04-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

Over the years more women have continued to pursue a higher education, but in Utah studies are showing many women aren't staying in school. Susan Madsen, associate professor of management, wants to change that and is leading a study with many other people at different institutions helping to collect data. Read more from the St. George Daily Spectrum.

03/24/10 - Dr. Alvetta Thomas honored as Atlanta Woman of Influence

2010-04-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

Dr. Alvetta Thomas, President of Atlanta Technical College, was honored by the Atlanta Business League's Women of Influence for 2010. She was recognized for her strong leadership in higher education. Read the article on Fayette Woman's website.

'Yes, She Can!'

2010-04-12T12:58:00.003-04:00

"In a recent post, Lesboprof chides herself for having been reticent about pursuing a leadership position in academe and wonders if traditional gender norms have been holding her back ..." Read more of this blog post by Gabriela Montell from The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Second Annual Summer Leadership Institute for Women in Higher Education: The Challenges of Agency: Empowering Women to Lead

2010-04-12T08:00:00.004-04:00

This year, the SLI welcomes Dr. Pamela Eddy as a keynote speaker. Highlights include:

Breakout sessions of interest for administrators, faculty, and graduate students in higher education
Networking session
Continental breakfast, lunch, and afternoon dessert provided

Review the Save the Date card to find out more about this conference being held in St. Cloud, MN.

Social and cultural impacts of globalization

2010-04-08T08:00:00.001-04:00

As the world gets increasingly interconnected through globalization, a sundry of changes are taking place, some of which evade our attention mainly because we are more concerned about the economic and political impacts of the phenomenon. Life as we know it is changing. Changes enter our lives through technology, consumer products, new thoughts, lifestyles and visions of others. ... Women are getting out of the family home; children are educated to partake in a world other than that of their parents. Read more of this blog post written from an international perspective by Dogu Ergil from Sunday's Zaman (Istanbul, Turkey).

UVA holds Women of Leadership Conference

2010-04-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

On February 18th and 19th, U.Va. hosted its second Women in Leadership Conference which featured a wide variety of panels, discussions, and lectures, all of which addressed the Conference’s central theme of “Leading by Example.” The two main featured speakers who opened and closed the Conference, respectively, were Sara James, an award-winning correspondent for Dateline NBC, and Cheryl Mills, the current Counselor and Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Read more information about the conference and listen to some of the highlights of the conference.

50 Twitter Feeds to Follow Higher Education News

2010-04-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

With tuition hikes, new majors, increasing numbers of online colleges and more, keeping up with the ever-changing world of higher education can be tough. You can, however, use your Twitter account to give you an edge on following the latest higher ed news. Try following one or all of these fabulous feeds to learn more about what’s going on with college education all over the nation. See the list.

03/25/10 - Free Webinar: From the Inside Out ... Meeting Today's Leadership Challenges

2010-04-05T08:00:00.001-04:00

The Southern California Network would like to invite you to be a part of their Webinar series. **REGISTRATION INFO: The webinars are FREE!!
Topic: From the Inside Out... Meeting Today's Leadership Challenges
Date: April 15th 11:30am to 12:30pm
Presenter: Dr. Soraya Coley, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs CSU Bakersfield Webinar Description: Dr. Coley identifies the changes and challenges facing campus leadership today and the profile of leadership needed to meet them. She describes her own transition from a faculty member into administration and the lessons learned along the way and the significance of mentorship. She discusses the importance of assessing the “match” between you and the position. Register at: http://lynx.csusm.edu/cascade/forms/owhe.asp

Women in Academic Medicine: Equal to Men, Except in Pay

2010-04-03T10:02:00.000-04:00

Women in academic medicine earn significantly less than men do, even when their professional activities and qualifications are comparable, according to a study whose results are being published in the April issue of Academic Medicine. Read more of this article written by Katherine Mangan.

Creating Leaders Who Flourish with Help from HR

2010-04-03T09:43:00.002-04:00

"Ever since President Dr. Jolene Koester of California State University, Northridge took office in 2000, she has promoted a set of core values on campus." Read this article to learn more about common leadership struggles, questions to reflect upon, and ideas on establishing a leadership development program on your campus.

03/26/10 - Spouses can play key role in success of KU administrators

2010-04-02T07:56:00.000-04:00

Times are changing. In fact, “change” was a central theme in President Obama’s successful bid for the White House. Changes have been taking place for years throughout our society, and everyday activities, changes in personal behavior, how we dress, values, what’s important and isn’t important in the eyes of different people, the role of government and on and on. Some of the changes may be for the better, while others are for the worse. One of the big changes is in America’s work force, which has shifted from the traditional model of a husband being the breadwinner and the wife taking care of the home and raising the children. Read more from Lawrence Journal-World & 6News.

03/24/10 - Woman named high school's head varsity football coach

2010-03-24T09:56:00.000-04:00

A high school in Washington, D.C., on Friday (03/12/10) named a former women's professional football player as its head varsity football coach, a move that a national women's sports advocacy group calls historic. Read more from cnn.com.

Women Making Gains on Faculty at Harvard

2010-03-23T13:43:00.000-04:00

Five years after Lawrence H. Summers, then the president of Harvard University, suggested that innate differences might explain why women are less successful in science and math careers than men, Harvard is, in some ways, a different place. Professors can get up to $20,000 to help pay for child care, there are new programs to encourage young women to pursue science and research careers, and seven of the 16 members of Harvard’s Council of Deans are now women.
“This is not your father’s Harvard,” said Martha Minow, dean of the law school. Read more from this article in the New York Times.

Spring 2010 Conference

2010-03-18T10:07:00.011-04:00

WANCHE held its spring conference yesterday. The conference was delivered via video-conferencing and was broadcast across North Carolina to 21 institutions.

The conference challenged women to prepare themselves for new opportunities. The budget has been tight and positions have been frozen, but as the economy recovers, opportunities will open up for women in the state. Sessions were held on Assessing the Educational Landscape in Preparation for Career Advancement, Professional Etiquette, and Promoting Yourself. Each of these sessions delivered professional tools and provided information to help women administrators and aspiring women administrators prepare for new opportunities that will appear over the next few years.

Visit WANCHE's website to review the conference handouts and PowerPoint presentations and then watch the recorded video of the conference.

What motivates women to become higher ed leaders?

2010-03-17T07:49:00.000-04:00

Dr. Kelline Cox, director of the office of planning and analysis at Kansas State University, conducted research to explore the motivations behind women wanting to become leaders in higher education. Read an overview of her study on the Women in Higher Education's website.

Community Colleges and Gender Norms

2010-03-16T14:53:00.000-04:00

In a recent issue of "on campus with women" sponsored by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, Jaime Lester, assistant professor of higher education at George Mason University, examined community colleges and gender norms. Read her article.

Women Leaders Honored at ACE Meeting

2010-03-15T08:31:00.000-04:00

The American Council on Education honored Dr. Blenda Wilson, former president of California State University, Northridge, with the Donna Shavlik award Saturday, at the Women's Leadership Dinner during ACE’s 92nd Annual Meeting being held last week in Phoenix. Named for the former longtime director of ACE’s Office of Women in Higher Education, the Shavlik award honors a leader who has demonstrated a sustained and continuing commitment to enhancing women's leadership and career development. Read more.

University of Vermont professors claim gender discrimination

2010-03-12T08:18:00.004-05:00

A small group of faculty members at the University of Vermont are claiming they are victims of gender discrimination. The faculty union has filed a grievance with the labor relations board, citing pay discrepancies between certain faculty members in the nursing department. Read more from the New England Cable News or watch the video by clicking on the image to the right.

ABC's and PhD's: Motivation

2010-03-11T07:54:00.004-05:00

Trying to find balance between your academic/career pursuits and your daily to do lists can be challenging. Read Dana Campbell's take on staying motivated in her "Mama PhD" blog.

Diversity defined and evolving on campus

2010-03-08T08:20:00.004-05:00

While diversity may just be a fashionable buzzword for marketing campaigns, an institution like Georgia Tech—as a whole—actually takes the word to action from the administrative to the individual student level. Read more of this article from Georgia Tech's student newspaper, Technique.

Women's Leadership in the Community College Sector

2010-03-08T08:17:00.000-05:00

In a recent issue of "on campus with women" sponsored by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, Charlene M. Dukes, the president of Prince Georges' Community College in Prince George's County Maryland, reflected on her 28 years of experience in higher education. Read her article.

North Dakota Higher Ed Needs Women in Leadership Roles

2010-03-04T08:55:00.005-05:00

"As NDSU searches for a new president, a former university president, who happens to be a woman, says it's important that promising female candidates be considered. In recent years it used to be that five out of 11 college and university presidents were women, and half of the positions on the state board of higher education were filled by women. Now there are no female presidents, and there's only one woman left on the board, whose term is up this fall." Read more from NBC's KFYR-TV station out of Bismarck, ND and watch the video.

Vice President for Academic Affairs position

2010-03-03T11:43:00.002-05:00

Queens University of Charlotte is conducting a search for a Vice President for Academic Affairs. Find out more about the position.

Our Journeys: Pathways to Potential

2010-02-27T16:06:00.010-05:00

Interested in gaining some wisdom from current women university/college presidents? Click on the image to the right to view a 2009 video produced by Mid Michigan Community College for the ACE (American Council on Education) Michigan State Network.

Welcome to the WANCHE Blog

2010-02-27T14:43:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the WANCHE (Women Administrators in North Carolina Higher Education) Blog. WANCHE's mission is to advance women in higher education administration and leadership. Maintaining itself as an active network, WANCHE brings visibility to women administrators on NC campuses, provides support and encouragement for their efforts, assists in their professional development, and identifies new career opportunities within NC, as well as around the nation. Visit or subscribe to our blog, if you are interested in news items and issues affecting women in higher education, professional development opportunities, job openings, and connecting with others who share these same interests.