Voices of Women of Color Community College CEOs

Centering the voices and experiences of women of color in community college leadership is a mandate for meaningful institutional change. In doing so, we not only deepen our understanding but also empower a more inclusive and effective leadership model.

This book highlights the perspectives of 17 leaders from diverse backgrounds including African American, Asian Pacific Islander, and Latino/Hispanic communities. By sharing the reflections of current and former community college chancellors and presidents the book enriches our understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities faced by these women leaders. By revealing how they perceive themselves, as well as how they are perceived by their peers, women of color illuminate their experiences as community college leaders, including navigating the intersections of race, ethnicity, and gender.

The book is divided into four parts, with chapters examining the unique pressures faced by women of color leaders in their roles in academia and emphasizing the importance of having a “voice at the table.” It considers the dynamics of the proverbial glass ceiling as bent, cracked, broken, or shattered and offers valuable insights from this diverse group of women leaders while crystalizing the "hidden curriculum" that leaders of color must navigate within higher education.