Research Questions: While community college transfer (i.e., upward transfer) represents an important mechanism for advancing equity across STEM fields, existing studies of gender and women's participation within computer science have largely excluded the perspectives of upward transfer students. We address this gap in the literature by exploring…

The issue of gender bias has been studied in many facets of society, including business, education, and leadership in general. Researchers and professionals working in the field have long had concerns over the issue of gender bias: if it is occurring, what does the rate and impact have on overall success in leadership? Women in upper-level…

The lack of representation of Latina community college presidents in California is an equity and social justice issue because the majority of students enrolled in community colleges are female and Latina but White men continue to dominate the office of the president. This issue is timely given the number of baby boomers who will be retiring in the…

The California Community College (CCC) system is the largest higher education system in the United States and serves diverse students. However, CCC's leadership does not mirror the diversity of its student population. Senior-level positions continue to be dominated by White men, highlighting the lack of diversity among leadership at these…

Black women administrators should be included in the discourse around experiences in leadership on their campuses, understanding these experiences will shed light not only on how to develop and retain this group, but also on these additional needs of this group. The experience of Black women administrators is a topic that has not been studied…

Americans pursue college degrees with hopes that this achievement will open doors and create opportunities for life- and family-sustaining, professional employment. But due to systemic barriers, institutionalized racism and intentional denial and exclusion of women of color, many would-be graduates are still denied access to a college degree…

This study explored the multifaceted journey of Black women ascending to senior-level leadership positions within Illinois community colleges. It aimed to uncover, understand, and provide actionable recommendations concerning the progression of these women into prominent roles, focusing on their unique identities, the impact of leadership support,…

Today, women remain underrepresented at the top levels of higher education administration, despite the fact that they are earning more advanced degrees at a faster pace than men (ACE, 2017). At the community college level, women have held and continue to hold the positions of department chairs, deans, assistant deans, directors, vice or associate…

This qualitative research study explored how the lifelong narrative identities of women educational leaders within the context of power structures have shaped the leaders they are today. Through narrative inquiry methodology and theoretical frameworks of narrative identity and feminist poststructuralism, six executive-level women leaders in the…

North Carolina has a long history of women in leadership positions and at the forefront of education. The women of North Carolina have been dedicated to the pursuit of equity in both leadership and education. This study provides in-depth experience of North Carolina Community College female presidents, understanding their involvement in being a…

Women faculty in higher education, and particularly BIPOC women faculty in community colleges, often bear the weight of emotional labor, or the expectation of managing both their feelings as well as their students' emotional needs. Because emotional labor goes unrecognized, this places a strain on faculty who balance teaching, research, and…

The nursing profession is in the midst of an epic shortage that will require an additional 400 thousand new nurses by 2026 due to an aging population (Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2019) and it's estimated that 11% of the current workforce will leave the profession entirely due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Raso et. al., 2021). Simultaneously, the…

The perceptions and experiences of female community college administrators, particularly those that are part of the Millennial generation, have often been neglected in current research. This study examines community college leadership in a new context, by exploring the lived experiences of female identifying Millennials. More specifically, this…

Research demonstrates that Women of Color faculty experience multiple systems of oppression in the academy. However, much of the literature surrounding the topic of Women of Color faculty is situated within university environments. A paucity of research sheds light on the experiences of Women of Color faculty within the community college setting.…

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…