Climbing the Ladder and Looking Back: Reflections of Women Leading Community Colleges Pamela L. Eddy Central Michigan University

I never set out to write a book to change women’s lives, to change history. It’s like, “Who, me?” Yes, me. I did it. And I’m not that different from other women….Maybe my power and glory was that I could speak my truth as a women and it was the truth of every woman. Betty Friedan ( )

The Community College Context Joilet College—Founded 1901  People’s College—Open Access  Women Friendly  Leadership Turnovers

Portrait of CC Leaders  29% of CC presidents are Women  8% in 1986  27% in 2001  70% anticipated to retire in 10 years  45% of current CC presidents over 61  60% came from previous presidency or Chief Academic Officer position

Research Question  How have women advanced in their careers to the community college presidency?  How do they describe their pathway?  What has aided/hindered them along the path?

Literature Review  CCs bureaucratic institutions (Birnbaum, 1992)  CC male dominance— “great men” (Amey & Twombly, 1992; Twombly, 1995)  Leadership Theory (Amey, VanDerLinden, & Brown, 2002; Eddy & VanDerLinden, 2006)  Career Pathway (Boggs, 1988; McDade, 1988; Wolverton & Gonzales, 2000)

Methods  Phenomenology  Understanding the career pathway  Understanding gendered experiences  Six Women  5 in first presidency; 1 in second presidency  Geographic diversity  Organizational diversity  All married (85% of all CC presidents married)

Findings Lack of Intentionality Key Support/Opportunity Family and Career Sequencing Reaching Back Playing with the Boys

Lack of Intentionality  Presidency not career goal  Breadth of CC experience and jobs  Happy where they were  Tapped vs. Internal motivation

Key Support/Opportunities  Previous Experiences  Variety of Skill Sets  Mentors

Family/Career Sequencing  Kids/Spouse  Timing to Move Up  Next Steps?

Reaching Back  Mentoring Others  Legacy  New Hierarchy

Playing with the Boys  The “Woman” factor  Role of Language  Golf

Discussion  Alternative routes to the presidency  Not a career destination/career satisfaction  Barriers –Male Norms –Family Responsibilities  Mentors/Career planning

Conclusion  Role of serendipity –Pulling up –Pushing up  It’s not the pipeline  Examples of women making it –Testing the leadership waters –Reconstructing leadership

Thank you!