African American women in executive-level leadership positions at three community colleges across southern New Jersey are underrepresented. Initial data found that women in five southern New Jersey community colleges make up 42% of executive leadership positions, where 38% are White women, and 4% are African American women. This data led to this…

This study examined how African American male community college presidents made meaning of their transformative leadership experiences. A semi-structured interviewing technique was utilized to collect data from seven African American male community college presidents. All interviews were transcribed using an Interpretative Phenomenological…

Latinas are underrepresented in top level leadership positions in higher education, comprising a small fraction of the 5% of women of color who serve as college and university presidents. Recent data revealed that the number of Latinas in senior-level leadership positions decreased, signaling a concerning downward trend. While much research has…

This chapter provides a portrait of rural community college leaders and identifies leadership priorities and career plans. Findings highlight the differences between rural and urban leaders regarding leadership development, areas of job foci, and career pathways.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the voices, experiences, and factors promoting the leadership career paths of senior-level women of color in higher education and to capture the voices of senior-level women of color on how they were able to overcome the barriers and challenges to breaking the glass ceiling on their leadership…

Though women make up the majority of community college students, faculty and staff, only 36% of community college presidents nationwide are female. With a significant number of presidential retirements on the horizon, there could be many opportunities for women in line for a community college presidency to take the next step along their career…

For those who do not come up through the typical faculty-dean-vice president route, making the leap to college president can be difficult--but more leaders are doing it. As colleges find themselves increasingly shifting to a student success model and grappling with performance funding, some leaders are finding that their unconventional experience…

The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of female presidents in Arkansas community colleges. This was accomplished by collecting data through one-on-one interviews to examine how these women have navigated the labyrinth of leadership to reach the presidency of a community college. Using the conceptual framework of the…

Between 2014 and 2016, California policymakers invested a half-billion dollars in the California Career Pathways Trust (CCPT). The initiative funded regional and local partnerships to establish career pathways designed to lead secondary school students to postsecondary degrees or certifications aligned with regional workforce needs. This brief…

The California Community College system is the largest system of higher education in the nation, with 2.6 million students attending 112 colleges. Community colleges are integral to workforce development, economic recovery, and an accessible and affordable gateway for transfer to four-year universities. While community college student population…

To better understand the influence of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) competencies on practice since their formation, six community college chief executive officers (five presidents and one chancellor) were asked to reflect upon the enduring relevance of the competencies. They were also asked specifically how they acquired…

In 2006, only 26 Latina CEOs served in associate degree colleges, primarily at Hispanic-serving institutions. In spite of the gains made by women in higher education, equity in the representation of Latinas in higher education at the highest administrative ranks has not been achieved. The primary purpose of this research was to learn from Latina…

The leadership crisis in community colleges has led to speculation on who will lead these colleges in the future and how best to prepare leaders for these positions. Traditionally, little research occurred regarding midlevel administrators despite the fact that the majority of presidents come from within the ranks. The findings from this research…

This chapter provides a portrait of women's representation in the leadership ranks of community colleges. The study analyzed audiotaped and transcribed interviews with six women community college presidents. Each of the women had been leading her institution for less than five years; one participant was serving in her second presidency. Findings…

The community college is one of the most diverse institutions of higher learning in regards to the make-up of its student population. However, with such a large representation of diversity within its student population, the community college has not been as successful in diversifying the community college presidency. The purpose of this…