Addressing the Gender Gap in College and University Presidents

The vast majority of college and university presidents are white men. Molly Easo Smith, executive director of the International Association of University Presidents Initiative to Develop Women as Academic Leaders, believes that to level the playing field the gender gap in the composition of college and university governing boards must change.

Dr. Smith states: “With at best minimum presence on governing boards of institutions, women and minorities are not even at the table where decisions about leadership are made. Self-perpetuating governing boards need to be educated about the importance of diversity in the academy at the highest levels, and more importantly, guided into diversifying their own membership.”

Molly Easo Smith is the former president of Manhattanville College. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Madras in India. She earned a Ph.D. in English literature at Auburn University in Alabama.