Resiliency and Women: The Journey to Academic STEM Leadership

Abstract

In this study, four women who hold academic STEM leadership positions were interviewed, following a resiliency theory conceptual framework, to determine what factors were instrumental in their successful journeys toward prestigious academic standings and to examine the struggles they faced on those journeys. STEM refers to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and STEM careers include chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, geoscience, life science, mathematics, and physics/astronomy. For the purposes of this study, academic STEM leadership positions include department chairs, deans, provosts, chancellors, and presidents. Key factors of assets and resources for resiliency are identified.