Date of Award
10-2024
Culminating Project Type
Dissertation
Styleguide
apa
Degree Name
Higher Education Administration: Ed.D.
Department
Educational Administration and Higher Education
College
School of Education
First Advisor
Rachel Friedensen
Second Advisor
Steve McCullar
Third Advisor
Jennifer Jones
Fourth Advisor
Trenda Boyum
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
COVID-19, mentorship, higher education, women leaders, leadership development, gender equity, hermeneutic phenomenology, work-life balance, resilience, intersectionality, mentor-leader.
Abstract
Mentoring is an essential strategy for developing leaders and promoting gender parity in the workplace. The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges for women in higher education leadership positions, disrupting traditional mentor-mentee dynamics. This feminist-hermeneutic phenomenological study explored the experiences of executive women mentor-leaders in higher education during the COVID-19 crisis, providing insights into their coping strategies and resilience.
Using a constructivist interpretive approach, this research examined the lived experiences of seven women in executive leadership positions within higher education institutions from 2020 to 2022. Semi-structured interviews reveal how these women navigated the transition to remote work, balanced professional and personal responsibilities, and adapted their mentoring practices in response to the pandemic. The hermeneutic circle facilitated data interpretation, allowing for a thorough examination of individual experiences.
Key findings show that women mentor-leaders used innovative and flexible strategies to maintain mentoring relationships, focusing on availability, active listening, and regular check-ins. Technology played an important role in maintaining engagement and support. Personal and professional boundaries, along with mentorship and leadership roles, were blurred, which added to their cognitive and emotional load, emphasizing the need for boundaries and self-care.
The study underscores the intersectionality of identities, including gender, race, sexual orientation, and familial roles, influencing mentor-leaders’ experiences and support capabilities. Effective leadership was characterized by empathy, vulnerability, and authenticity. This research emphasizes the importance of flexible strategies, empathetic leadership, and community support for navigating future challenges in higher education.
Recommended Citation
Easley, Dawn, "Blurred Lines: Examining the Experiences of Women Mentor-Leaders in Executive Higher Education Roles during the COVID-19 Pandemic" (2024). Culminating Projects in Higher Education Administration. 90.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/hied_etds/90
Comments/Acknowledgements
I want to express my gratitude to the people who have helped me along the way with my dissertation. First and foremost, I would like to share my deep appreciation to my cherished spouse for being my constant support and inspiration in this academic pursuit. Your love and belief in me have been the foundation of my success. I cannot thank you enough. Your patience, understanding, and selflessness have enabled me to pursue my academic goals. Your confidence in me has inspired me to create higher goals for myself and achieve them. I am grateful for your understanding when I prioritized my research over our personal life and how often you picked up the slack. Your presence in my life has been a source of comfort and strength- I could not have come this far without you. You have been my rock, inspiration, and partner in every sense of the word. Thank you for being my primary support on this journey.
I would also like to thank my wonderful children for their patience and support. Your understanding has been invaluable to me, and I cannot thank you enough. Your sacrifices have not gone unnoticed, especially during long hours of studying and writing. I am proud of each of you for your unique genius and am grateful for the joy you bring into my life. I am blessed to have you as children and look forward to celebrating your many successes in life!
I want to thank my friends and colleagues for their support. Your support has helped me through difficult moments. I appreciate your willingness to ask about my progress, listen (even if you weren’t interested!), and keep rooting for me. It meant the world to me.
My gratitude goes to my dissertation committee, who offered me priceless advice throughout my research. Your recommendations were constructive and raised the caliber of my work. I appreciate the time spent reading (and re-reading) my work. A special acknowledgment goes to my dissertation chair, Dr. F., for assuring me that I would not be ABD forever. Your patience, guidance, and charisma throughout this journey will always be remembered.
Lastly, to Cohort 12, I finally finished! Reflecting on the entire experience… wow, it was a lot. We cannot minimize what we went through besides the academic work. During our journey, our cohort experienced the global COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest from the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, Daunte Wright, and so many more #SayTheirNames. Do not forget about the chaos of the January 6th, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol. We witnessed the disruption it caused as the divide in our country grew. Nevertheless, we persisted. I will forever cherish the flurry of text messages from our group chats filled with despair, overwhelm, humor, and encouragement. Thank you for sharing knowledge and perspectives freely. Your openness to thought-provoking dialogue influenced my research. I appreciate your comments and helpful feedback, which forced me to think more critically and from a broader range of views. Without a doubt, you were an influential part of my success. Thank you!
I owe all of you a massive debt of gratitude. Without your support, I would not have been able to finish this dissertation. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate you!
✨Shine On