Mentoring Experiences of Higher Education Women Leaders

• In Event: Female Faculty: Response to Challenges in Higher Education

Abstract

A quantitative survey research design was employed to understand how women university presidents have experienced mentoring relationships, either as mentors or protégés, in their ascension to the college presidency. The research questions were: (a) what kinds of mentoring relationships have women higher education leaders experienced as mentors? (b) what kinds of mentoring relationships have women higher education leaders experienced as protégés?, and (c) what advice would women higher education leaders give to other women leaders to strengthen mentoring and networking practices? The data were collected using Qualtrics, a Web-based survey instrument. We (the three researchers) independently completed data reduction, display, and triangulation to identify themes emerging from the open-ended responses (Berkowitz, 1997). Themes were then compared for similarities and differences.

Authors

• Julia Nell Ballenger, Texas A&M University - Commerce

• Jenny S. Tripses, Bradley University

• Linda J. Searby, Auburn University