Women Leaders in Higher Education

This book examines the developed leadership perspectives and capacities of 24 women presidents in the northeastern United States from the lenses of organizational behavior and psychology. Building Madsen’s groundbreaking work (2008), it highlights how these women overcame challenges and biases to reach the presidency. Based on this analysis, the authors present the Women’s Integrative Leadership Development (WILD) model, which integrates and contextualizes the trajectories, relationships, personal characteristics, and leadership skills of the interviewees within an ever-evolving societal landscape. Ultimately, this book distills the shared elements of successful women leaders, offering a valuable resource for those interested in management, career development, HRD, HRM, and organizational behavior, particularly as there are few validated models of leadership development tailored specifically for women.