Women presidents on the rise at R1 institutions, Eos report finds
The Women Power Gap Initiative, led by New England Council member, the Eos Foundation, has released a comprehensive report on the state of diversity in academic leadership. According to the findings, there has been a notable improvement in the representation of women as presidents in leading research institutions across the United States. Between September 2021 and May 2023, the percentage of women holding these prestigious positions increased from 22% to 30%. However, the progress for women of color in similar leadership roles was relatively modest, with an increase from 5% to 6% during the same time frame.
Moreover, the report shed light on the persistent gender disparity in university leadership, emphasizing that less than 30% of board chairs are women. To address these concerns, the report put forth several key recommendations. It called for greater transparency and more comprehensive reporting on diversity in academic institutions, urging universities to share their progress openly. Additionally, the report highlighted the need for chief human resource officers to be actively involved in the hiring process to ensure inclusivity and diversity at all levels of university administration.
“This speaks to an increased awareness of the importance of having academic leadership that represents the diversity of the student population it serves,” said President of Women’s Power Gap Andrea Silbert. “Women have outnumbered men on college campuses for decades, so it’s high time we’re starting to see more gender and racial diversity reflected in the highest roles in academia,” she said.
The New England Council commends the Eos Foundation for conducting this important research.
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