Women's Use of Social Capital to Ascend to Senior Leadership in Higher Education Organizations

• In Event: Interrogating Workplaces of the Academy

Abstract

Purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to explore the role of social capital in the ascension into senior leadership roles for women in higher education organizations. Of specific interest were women’s perceptions of the role of social capital in their ascension into senior leadership, and of the importance of their professional and personal network connections to their career success. The study is framed by social capital theory. Participants were 10 women at 5 universities located in the southwestern region of the U.S. Findings indicated that a majority of participants had networking opportunities that resulted in higher-level career positions, but only half perceived that their network connections or social capital helped them ascend in their career.

Authors

• Elaina Cantrell Robinson, West Texas A&M University
  Presenting Author

• Stephanie J. Jones, Texas Tech University
  Presenting Author