Leadership Stories: Defining Gender in the University Presidency

• In Event: 49.045 - Gender Matters: Transformations of Leaders in Higher Education

Abstract

This research examines the findings of a qualitative study to identify and describe the successful traits of women presidents who lead research institutions. According to Eagly and Carli (2007), traits are an equalizing power in leadership competence. A search of the 2010 Carnegie Classification of Institutes of Higher Education yielded less than 10 universities meeting the criteria Research University (Very High Research) that were led by a woman president. Women presidents of large research universities are deemed successful by the fact that they are leading the top institutions in the country. Learning the traits of these women leaders as defined by their own words informs leadership learning for all women working in higher education.

Author

• Tania Reis, Gannon University