How Six Women Deans of Agriculture Have Attained Their Leadership Role: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

There is a disproportionate ratio of men to women in leadership roles in higher education and agriculture. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lives of women deans in agriculture in an attempt to conceptualize the leadership styles they have developed as a result of their positions as deans in a predominantly male field. Six women deans of agriculture were interviewed and observed in an attempt to recognize the impact their personal journeys have had in developing their leadership styles and attaining their leadership role. The overarching conclusions for the women in this study was that their leadership role was not limited to their education and work experience, gender, peoples’ perceptions of women, fairness, or power. In addition, each of the women deans in this study exhibited personality traits such as surgency, conscientiousness, agreeableness, adjustment, and intellectance, which are traits considered relevant for leadership effectiveness.