Explore how women have succeeded in higher education administration through the collective wisdom of diverse college and university leaders

As the percentage of women college and university presidents continues to increase, more and more women are considering academic administration as a viable career. Current and future leaders who aspire to rise to the top ranks of a college or university need a path to help them navigate the various issues they might encounter in todays academic institutions.

Women in the Higher Education C-Suite: Diverse Executive Profilesexplores the personal narratives of a diverse group of women CEOs and senior executives serving in two- and four-year public and private colleges and universities in the United States. Emphasizing real-world leadership, this book focuses on the remarkable women who continue to break barriers and inspire the next generation of leaders. Author Lisa Mednick Takami, Ed.D. draws from extended qualitative interviews with successful higher education CEOs and senior leaders to highlight their lived experiences, career trajectories, leadership lessons, and much more. Throughout the book, the leaders discuss common obstacles and offer recommendations to help you overcome them in your professional journey. The book also:

Those profiled include:

Designed to provide inspiration and guidance for future women leaders,Women in the Higher Education C-Suite: Diverse Executive Profiles is a must-read for educators, researchers, administrators, pre-service teachers, students in leadership courses, and women executives from other fields interested in pursuing senior-level college and university administration positions.

LISA MEDNICK TAKAMI, ED.D. is a leadership consultant, writer, and higher education administrator. She currently serves as Special Project Director at North Orange Continuing Education, the noncredit educational provider of the North Orange County Community College District. Dr. Takami has profiled CEOs and senior leaders for the journalWomen in Higher Education since 2014. She served as COO for a labor-management apprenticeship training institute during the pandemic and has held administrator and faculty positions at several two-year and four-year institutions. Takami is the author ofAmerican Mind, Japanese Mind; Cross-Cultural Reflections from East and West and Chief Diversity Officers in U.S. Higher Education: Impacting the Campus Climate for Diversity. Takami resides in Southern California with her husband, Masahiko. They have two adult children, Michael and Sarah.

About the Author xiii

Foreword xv

Acknowledgments xix

Introduction 1
Dr. Lisa Mednick Takami

1 "I Represent Students in all States to Reach their Potential" 5
Interview with Dr. Mildred García, Chancellor, California State University System

2 "It Matters Who Is in the Room" 15
Interview with Dr. Linda Oubré, President Emeritus, Whittier College

3 "Leadership Is Really an Orientation Toward Action" 25
Interview with Dr. Dena P. Maloney, Retired Superintendent/President, El Camino Community College District

4 "I Had to Become More Proximal" 39
Interview with Dr. Katrice Albert, Vice President, Office of Institutional Diversity, University of Kentucky

5 "The Best Way to Move Forward is to be Absolutely Great at Your Job" 53
Interview with Dr. Jane Close Conoley, President, California State University, Long Beach

6 "Your Path isnt Necessarily a Straight Line" 67
Interview with Dr. Sandra Boham, President, Salish Kootenai Community College

7 "Running Through the Fire" 81
Interview with Dr. Judy K. Sakaki, President Emeritus, Sonoma State University

8 "The Wind of the Ancestors was at My Back" 95
Interview with Dr. Becky R. Petitt, Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, University of California, San Diego

9 "Education is the Great Equalizer" 105
Interview with Dr. Erika Endrijonas, Superintendent/President, Santa Barbara Community College District

10 "The Pulse on What Matters" 121
Interview with Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston, President, Norfolk State University

11 "You Need to Look Up" 133
Interview with Dr. Joanne Li, Chancellor, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Appendix 147

Index 149