An exploratory study of the career pathways of male and female presidents at 4-year, private, liberal arts colleges in the Southeast and their enactment of the job

This manuscript explores the career pathways of the presidents of four small, private, liberal arts colleges in the Southeastern United States and how they enact the duties and responsibilities of the job. A male and female president who have traveled a more nontraditional pathway, primarily from outside of higher education, are compared to a male and female president who have spent their careers in the academy before ascending to the office. Specifically explored are the circumstances around which a more nontraditional candidate is chosen for the job and the prior career experiences considered to be their best preparation. Their priorities and strategies in leading the institutions as well as the leadership styles and behaviors they employ are also examined by gender and career path. Finally, the paper explores the areas in which the presidents were most challenged and how they worked to establish legitimacy at their institution.