Although women have made substantial progress in attaining leadership positions, women remain underrepresented in all sectors—including higher education. While women attain more doctoral and master’s degrees than their male counterparts, they continue to earn less money than men. Furthermore, women are underrepresented in holding presidential positions at all types of higher education institutions. Regardless of their demonstrated educational success and qualifications, fully equipped and credentialed women professionals have been viewed as less capable of fulfilling leadership roles due to descriptive gender stereotypes reducing their access to leadership roles.
Beyond Programs: Leadership Lessons from Ireland’s Inclusive Universities
During a recent sabbatical studying inclusive postsecondary education in Ireland, I visited four universities—University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, and Mary Immaculate
Ashley Rodrigues
July 20, 2026
