Abstract
The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the role of female Board of Trustee members at community colleges in the Pacific Northwest, and to examine the impact of gender representation, if present, in terms of female influence on Board performance. This exploration focuses specifically on existing female community college Board of Trustee members to understand how they perceive their leadership roles and responsibilities. The research questions guiding this study are:
1. How do female Board of Trustee members understand their leadership roles and responsibilities?
2. Why do female Board of Trustee members choose to run for election?
3. In addition to representing the general community population, do women serving on the Board of Trustees at community colleges feel they have an obligation to represent the female voice?
4. To what extent does gender affect their role as a Board of Trustee member?
The review of literature was based upon three distinct sections: (a) the historical and socio-cultural context of leaders in education, (b) the role of Board of Trustees at community colleges, (c) leadership behaviors of women in education, and (d) women as elected leaders. Multiple in-depth, semi-structured interviews were used to collect narrative data from seven identified participants. After completion of the first interview, the raw data was read several times to identify emergent themes.
An analysis of the data gathered revealed seven emergent themes: (1) Institutional Leaders, (2) Commitment to Community and College, (3) Leadership for Learning, (4) Competing in the Race, (5) Champions for Woman, (6) The Female Presence, and (7) Insecurities and Challenges.
Key findings from the study suggest that female Board of Trustee members have a strong shared understanding of their role and responsibilities within their college and community. Additionally, female Board members place a high priority on ensuring rigorous academia, quality learning, and serving as mentors for future women leaders. The majority of the women expressed that challenges based on gender roles and stereotypes still exist. The females confirmed that the Board was a politically charged entity. The investigation concludes with recommendations for action and further research.