Routledge Women at the Top: What Women University and College Presidents Say About Effective Leadership (Pathways to Leadership)

Although much has been written about leaders and leadership, we unfortunately know little about the women who fill this particular role. This book--the first in a series that explores women leaders in different contexts--remedies this gap by presenting the reflections of nine women community college, college, and university presidents on what they see as key tenets of leadership, illuminated by pivotal events in their careers. These presidents know the power of words, and in telling their stories through these interviews with the authors, they let us know who they are, what their visions are, and what they value. While they express some differences in their emphases on particular leadership characteristics, they show remarkable unanimity in their beliefs as to which are the most important--competence, credibility, and communication. The participants discuss the growing opportunities for women in higher education administration, without minimizing the barriers that still exist, nor the potential for backlash against powerful and assertive women. They stress the need for women to be very careful about making the correct choices for themselves; to balance personal life and work; and to appropriately prepare for leadership. This book both breaks new ground, and offers guidance for women who aspire to positions of leadership--in any field of endeavor. The Presidents: Gretchen M. Bataille, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas Barbara Douglass, Northwestern Connecticut Community College, Winsted, CT Mildred García, California State University, Dominguez Hills Carol C. Harter, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Mamie Howard-Golladay, Sullivan County Community College, Loch Sheldrake, NY Martha T. Nesbitt, Gainesville State College, Gainesville, Georgia Pamela Sue Shockley-Zalabak, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs Betty L. Siegel, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA Karen Gayton Swisher, Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence, KS Each confronts her world with grace, her work with passion, and her life with enthusiasm. The Series: Pathways to Leadership is a series about successful women who have reached the pinnacle of their careers. It features stories about extraordinary women who have found paths to success--whether it's leading a college or university or becoming successful scholars in science and engineering or thriving in some other male-dominated arena. Review "What's different when a woman takes control? Women at the Top: What Women University and College Presidents Say About Effective Leadership is a collection of essays from various women in power as presidents of major colleges throughout the United States. They each speak with much wisdom about the challenges a woman faces in this position, and offer leadership keen for a woman in any type of leadership position - and a good deal of it can apply to men as well. Women at the Top is a solid manual of leadership advice with a specialized, but not overly so, focus."-- (03/01/2009) "A book that is a truly exceptional contribution to the literature on leadership. The authors' distillation of the interviews to derive the nine tenets of effective leadership make this a must read for aspiring leaders and followers in higher education. I especially liked the fact that the tenets were tucked away in the back after the authors' thoughtful discussion of the obstacles of this 'road less traveled'. They highlight the speed bumps and crossroads that traditionally hold women and people of color from leadership positions. Women at the Top is inspirational because most women who read it will see themselves trying to balance their competing family priorities with career paths and can say, 'I can do this too.' The future looks bright indeed for women who aspire to leadership roles in higher education, and this deeply personal and reflective book will serve as a guidebook and resource for other women who seek leadership roles in