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In Their Own Words and by the Numbers: A Mixed-Methods Study of Latina Community College Presidents

In 2006, only 26 Latina CEOs served in associate degree colleges, primarily at Hispanic-serving institutions. In spite of the gains made by women in higher education, equity in the representation of Latinas in higher education at the highest administrative ranks has not been achieved. The primary purpose of this research was to learn from Latina community college presidents about their experiences on the pathway to the presidency. This mixed methods study examined the career paths and early influences, as well as external forces that converged to support their ascent to being presidents and chancellors. The conditions and experiences examined were (a) influences that Latina community college presidents identified as having the most impact on personal career success, (b) strategies Latinas have employed to overcome barriers or challenges on the pathway to the presidency, and (c) the organizational climate and practices within community colleges that either hinder or support Latinas. The convergence of these conditions was analyzed to determine effective strategies to support Latinas in achieving leadership roles. The following themes emerged from the findings: personal context, professional preparation, professional context, and challenges and the leadership pipeline. The findings suggest that trustees played a critical role in promoting diversity. Moreover, although systemic barriers exist, the Latina presidents in this study refused to allow bias to prevent them from succeeding. Recommendations for further studies and implications for developing Latinas to gain access to the leadership pipeline were discussed in the findings.