| With many university presidents and chancellors approaching retirement age, the American higher education system is confronting a significant turnover in its leadership ranks that presents a unique opportunity to increase the representation of women. Given that the most likely pathway to a presidency is through the chief academic officer (CAO) position, information about this role is important to understanding the progression to the top leadership job in higher education.;This dissertation investigated women's leadership within the academy by studying female chief academic officers. Twelve women CAOs were interviewed using semi-structured questions. Discrete patterns in their career advancement and the influence of various catalysts were identified that facilitated their progression. As the women advanced, their gender, along with family influences, socioeconomic factors, racism and societal expectations, impacted their ability to pursue their educational goals or limited their career aspirations. Furthermore, the participants pinpointed an array of individuals, experiences and abilities that shaped them, reflecting the particular nature of individual career paths and skill development.;Half of the women in the study expressed no interest in pursuing a presidency. However, all of the women felt that they could obtain a presidency, if they applied for one that was a good match for their personal needs and professional aspirations. To address ways of fostering female interest in the presidency, the participants suggested different initiatives and improvements that higher education institutions, professional associations, senior leaders and boards of trustees could implement. Furthermore, the CAOs believed that there were steps that women interested in advancing could undertake to improve their capacity to progress. In general, there are no simple or standard solutions to this issue; however, encouraging and undertaking proactive behaviors that support women's progress at different levels will help attain the goal of advancing them to the top post. |
