The Gender Gap in Higher Education: A Phenomenological Study of Senior Women Leaders in Four Year Institutions

The purpose of this study was to take a thoughtful look at the gender gap in higher education, more specifically at the level of university president. The gender gap exists still in 2018, as women and other minorities continue to struggle to attain senior administrator positions, and ultimately to level the gap. The findings offer a unique view of the obstacles and challenges women face as they aspire to the presidency, and likewise several strategies that other young women can utilize to achieve career success. This qualitative, phenomenological study was based primarily on confidential interviews with eleven senior women leaders. The eleven participants are senior administrators at four-year universities; nine are current presidents, and two are chancellors both who served as former university presidents prior to their current roles. Prior to the presidency, the women all held various other leadership roles leading up to their senior appointments. All interviews were transcribed verbatim, analyzed, and coded for emerging themes. Several themes emerged from the research that fell under two broader categories. One category is the obstacles and challenges the participants faced throughout their careers, which can serve as lessons to the women that will continue to persevere long after them. The second category is the strategies for success these women have in common to have achieved senior leadership roles. The categories will then be broken down to sub-themes that each participant regarded as an important element on her journey to success.