Dear Readers:
This week we celebrated National Women's Day. About time, right? Women are an integral part of every business, yes, it is often difficult to break the glass ceiling. I know -- I've been there. When I was twenty-six, I was appointed as a high school principal for a school for juvenile delinquents. At the time, and still, maybe, I was the youngest woman ever appointed into a leadership position in a school. My appointment didn't come without conflict. Why? The higher-ups didn't think a woman could do the job, especially a young one at the age of twenty-six running a school filled with students who averaged eight misdemeanors and three felonies. Frankly, they had no other choice but to appoint me because I was the only one at the time, man or woman, who held a state certificate as a special education administrator and criminal justice. No one had my qualifications so they had no choice. Trust me, they didn't like it. I proved them wrong. Not only did I become the principal of that school, but also the principal for the juvenile detention facility at the same time. I think they appointed me to two positions hoping I failed. Needless to say, I was in a man's world. I continued my career path all the way to the central office and never looked back proving them wrong and eventually earning my PhD. Boy, do I wish I had a mentor back then to bounce ideas and strategies. There wasn't a woman in sight who could, only men. I think that is why I love today's BOOK OF THE DAY, "Voices from Women Leaders on Success in Higher Education Pipelines, Pathways, and Promotion" edited By Barbara Cozza and Ceceilia Parnther. I applaud them for putting this fabulous book together that offers so much expertise for women leaders and future women leaders. This book is a must-have for any woman considering entering management and other leadership positions. The wealth of knowledge contained within can't be replaced. Order your copy today!
Voices from Women Leaders on Success in Higher Education
Pipelines, Pathways, and Promotion
This book assists aspiring and current women leaders on how to advance into higher education leadership roles.
Drawn from research and the lived experiences of women and non-binary people in higher education leadership, this book serves as a guide in understanding the gender disparity in higher education leadership and how women leaders forge pathways to promotion and success through systemic barriers, obstacles, and a lack of representation.
A critical review of traditional leadership theory offers an opportunity to reimagine how effective leadership is framed and valued in higher education. Chapter authors and case studies explore the intersections of multiple identities and their impacts on leadership through lenses, including institutional type, functional areas, ability, gender identity, sexuality, race, and ethnicity.
Focusing on a bridge from theory to practice that is designed to empower and inspire women leaders at all levels of the spectrum, this book is ideal reading for higher education scholars, students, and faculty aspiring to become leaders.
Reviews
"This collection of leadership essays and the research that supports it reinforce the notion that every person in an organization can be empowered as a leader…Focusing on collaboration, leaders from different types of institutions across the country shine a light on both the progress and lived experience of advocacy, inclusion, and equity. The expectations are high, and the challenges are still formidable. However, the voices and experiences of women leaders gathered here demonstrate that the goals are attainable. This volume is a welcome addition to the literature and a valuable resource for developing and experienced leaders alike."
-From the Foreword by Jo Ann Rooney, President, Loyola University Chicago
ABOUT THE EDITORS
Barbara Cozza, Ph.D. holds rank as full Professor of Educational Leadership in the Department of Administrative and Instructional Leadership at St. John’s University. Dr. Cozza has held leadership positions as Department Chairperson, Assistant Chairperson, and Director of Instructional Leadership programs. Dr. Cozza’s research targets educational reform issues in the areas of leadership, curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Some research topics that Dr. Cozza is exploring are: Women in Higher Education Leadership, Leadership Coaching, Multi-age Teaching and Learning in Developing and Developed countries, creating school/university partnerships, and transforming educational systems and leadership. Dr. Cozza writes numerous books on international and national topics for Pk-20 systems and presents at global conferences. Dr. Cozza applies qualitative and mixed design methods in her research.
Dr. Ceceilia Parnther is an assistant professor in the Department of Administrative and Instructional Leadership at St. John’s University. In her work, Parnther develops and implements qualitative research designs to explore equity in higher education. Her research agenda centers on culture and equity and includes mentorship and student success, academic integrity education, and knowledge acquisition/dissemination in higher education. Dr. Parnther’s career path as a scholar-practitioner includes roles in academic and student affairs; she has served in leadership and teaching positions in higher education administration for 15 years.
