ABSTRACT
For the past decade, higher education in the United States has experienced enormous challenges. Attention to the issues of affordability, access, attainment, and accountability has exploded on the public agenda. National presidential candidates regularly tout their higher education policy agendas, whereas in the past, such policies would rarely be mentioned. This chapter is based on in-depth interviews with 21 female college or university presidents or chancellors. It provides a brief overview of key research on women in higher education leadership relevant to our work with special focus on demographic trends, gender/race/class, gender expectations, and women's leadership styles. Many of the women interviewed made an honest and detailed inventory of experiential gaps and sought out professional and personal development opportunities. Resilience took two forms within our interview data: dealing with challenge and adversity and nurturing the self.
