EXAMINING THE ROLE OF WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT, MENTORING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR FEMALE CFOs AND CAOs IN THE NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM

Abstract

Women are now playing an important role in community colleges as students, faculty, staff, administrators, and presidents; but despite their increasing numbers, inequalities exist between women and men in various roles within these institutions (Drake, 2008). According to Dean (2009) and Eagly (2007), higher education institutions have maintained a male-dominated culture in which women remain underrepresented in academic leadership. But, leadership within higher education exists at various levels throughout the institution (Ummersen, 2009). Therefore, the purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to examine females serving at the senior-level CFO and CAO administrative positions in the NCCCS in order to develop an understanding of how the workplace environment, mentoring, and professional development have affected their advancement. The research participants were female CFOs and CAOs with more than two years of experience serving in their present positions in the NCCCS. Data were gathered from five CFOs and five CAOs in the NCCCS. This study's results concluded that the workplace environment has dramatically changed and now offers more opportunities for females seeking advancement. In addition, the workplace environment was ranked the most important component in terms of advancement for females CFOs and CAOs. The experiences gained in the workplace are valuable resources. Professional development was ranked second by the CFOs and CAOs. Additional educational degrees and certificated credentials were explained as needed for promotions. Finally, the evidence revealed mentoring as the least important and not a necessity for advancement. This study contained various implications for females seeking advancement into the CFO and CAO positions. The study concluded with recommendations for future research.