Women Leaders of ASHE: Crafting Identity in a Changing Context

Pamela L. EddyThe College of William and Mary

Chris WeberNorthwestern Michigan College

Questions

How did women leaders experience ASHE?

How did these women leaders craft their leadership identity?

How was ASHE influenced by these women leaders?

Literature Review

ASHE History

Leadership Theory

Social Constructivism and Identity Theory

Gendered Organizational Theory

Methods

Structuration

Oral History

Feminist Standpoint Theory

ASHE Context

In 1977—first ASHE conference› 10 papers in 4 sessions› No women presenting

In 1987—first ASHE conference separate from AAHE (Clif Conrad-President)› 37 research papers› 14 women presenting

In 2010—Largest conference 1300+› 276 research papers› 250 women presenting/138 1st author

Themes

Structural Influences on Leadership

Shifting Patterns of Leadership Expectations

Resistance via Practices of Self

Scholarly Leadership to Multidimensional Leadership

Structural Influences of Leadership

Historic pipeline of conference chair to ASHE president

Increasing size shifted leadership needs

Role of the “firsts”

Shifting Leadership Expectations

Complexity of context› Scholars of color› New forms of knowledge creation

Internal institutional demands on faculty work

Resistance via Practices of Self

Children at ASHE

Program Themes

Ad hoc Committees

Scholarly Leadership to Multidimensional Leadership

Demands of growth

Bifurcation› Senior Scholars› Newcomers/graduate students

Expansion of expectations› External funding› Interaction with professional staff

What’s Next?

How does the past help us understand the significance of pivotal events?

How can lessons learned by senior ASHE members serve as a bridge to newer members and emerging scholars?

What are the key challenges facing the organization and what are the appropriate approaches to take to address these challenges?