Navigating the Murky Middle: Understanding How
Career Aspirations and Experiences Influence the Career Progression of Women
Identifying, Student Affairs, Middle Managers
Lindsey Gilmore / lgilmore@bellarmine.edu
/ Faculty Advisor: Mike Vetter
Even though women have made tremendous strides in
many facets of education, ascending the administrative and leadership ranks
within universities at a proportionate ratio to the number of women who peak as
middle managers is not one of them. In the past 40 years, the number of women
serving as presidents of universities across the nation has increased less than
10% from 21.1% in 1975 to 30.1% in 2016 (ACE, 2018). If a woman does find
herself serving at the helm of an institution, it is more than likely at a
“private, liberal arts schools rather than at doctoral granting, research, and
comprehensive institution” due to the perceived male characteristics required
for successful leading such institutions (Collins, 2009, p. 6). Therefore, an
examination of those women serving in middle manager roles must be conducted.
The purpose of this dissertation research is to dive into the lived experiences
of women identifying, student affairs, middle managers in the hopes of gaining
an enhanced understanding of their career aspirations and experiences. This
phenomenological study is grounded in a modern feminist approach as well as
motivational theory related to industrial organizational psychology. The study
consists of 15 women identifying, student affairs, middle managers with
terminal degrees. One interview lasting from one to two hours was conducted
with each participant via Zoom. The interviews were recorded with permission
and then transcribed. Two phases of coding emerged from the transcription data
in order for themes to emerge. The hope is for this study to assist
universities as well as senior level administrators in creating a more
supportive environment and individually encouraging middle manager women,
especially those with such aspirations, to seek advancement within the field.
