Every March, institutions across the country pause to honor Women’s History Month—a national celebration of women who refused to accept limitations, who led with courage, and who reshaped the world for those who would follow. This narrative is especially meaningful for those of us in higher education, especially within the community college sector, where the open-door mission now welcomes and empowers women to lead, innovate, and thrive.
While our profession is strengthened by the dedication of both men and women, this month we shine a bright light on the women whose work—often quiet, often unheralded—has transformed our institutions from the inside out. With thousands of women leading community colleges today in every position from president to department chair and everything in between, it is safe to say that community college women have not just broken the glass ceiling; we now have colleagues who leap right over it.
My own journey in leadership was profoundly influenced by a formative experience in 1987, when I spent a week in Phoenix at a Leaders Seminar hosted by the American Association of Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC). Guided by two extraordinary women—Dr. Mildred Bulpitt and Dr. Carolyn Desjardins—I sat among a circle of women who were presidents, deans, and rising leaders in community colleges from across the country.
We acolytes absorbed their wisdom, talent, and boldness of spirit. I left that seminar feeling inspired, challenged, and ready to step more fully into a leadership role. I was inspired then; I am inspired still. Today, as AAWCC chapters flourish nationwide—including a revitalized chapter at CCBC—I am reminded of the lasting power of women guiding, challenging, and nurturing the next generation of community college leaders.
Leadership is not defined by titles. It is defined by purpose—meeting students where they are; breaking down barriers to success; and ensuring that higher education remains a pathway to opportunity for all. Harvard scholar Patricia Cross captured this beautifully when she wrote, “Morale is the outcome of shared vision.” Sharing a vision is what community colleges do best: drawing circles that pull people in, rather than keeping anyone out; embracing humanity in all its forms; and ensuring that every learner feels a sense of belonging.
We do not need rooms full of high-priced consultants—even if we could afford them—when our campuses are already filled with dedicated, talented men and women who have long been the innovators, disruptors and champions of our profession. As history reminds us: well-behaved women may not make history—but committed, courageous women certainly do.
Happy Women’s History Month!