Women in Executive Administration at The University of Texas at Austin to Discuss Hurdles Their Paths to Leadership Roles in Higher Education

March 27, 2007

AUSTIN, Texas—Some high-level women administrators at The University of Texas at Austin will talk about their paths toward appointment to leadership roles as part of a panel discussion in a campus public forum Thursday, March 29, on strategies to overcome gender bias, stereotyping and profiling.

The 3:30 p.m. event in the Multipurpose Room of Almetris Duren Hall, at Guadalupe and 27th streets, is open to the public. The university's Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, in cooperation with the Center for Women's and Gender Studies, the Division of Housing and Food Service, the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, and the Graduate School, is sponsoring the program.

The forum was organized, in part, because of public interest that arose when Harvard University recently named Drew Faust the first woman president in its 371-year history.

"It is wonderful that four of the Ivy League universities are now led by women," said Dr Jessica Geier, project director for the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement. "I hope that in the near future media attention will focus more on merit than on gender."

Geier said that although progress has been made, the reality is that few women hold high-level positions of leadership in society, including institutions of higher education.

The panelists will discuss their professional backgrounds, with the goal of inspiring more women to follow in their paths to leadership. The panel members will include Dr. Victoria Rodriguez, vice provost and dean of graduate studies; Dr. Judy Ashcroft, dean of the Division of Continuing Education; Dr. Michelle Young, executive director of the University Council for Educational Administration; Dr. Darlene Grant, associate dean of graduate studies; Dr. Gretchen Ritter, director of the Center for Women's and Gender Studies, Dr. Barbara White, dean of the School of Social Work; and Dr. Mechele Dickerson, associate dean of the School of Law.

For more information contact: Robert D. Meckel, Office of Public Affairs, 512-475-7847; Kiersten Ferguson, Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, 512-471-3212.