Year
2024
Season
Summer
Paper Type
Doctoral Project
College
College of Education and Human Services
Degree Name
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EdD)
Department
Leadership, School Counseling & Sport Management
NACO controlled Corporate Body
University of North Florida. Department of Leadership, School Counseling & Sports Management
First Advisor
Dr. Amanda Pascale
Second Advisor
Dr. Amanda Kulp
Third Advisor
Dr. Diane Yendol - Hoppey
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Matthew Ohlson
Department Chair
Dr. David Hoppey
College Dean
Dr. Steve Dittmore
Abstract
Women have made many strides in many industries, yet a gendered leadership gap still exists. On many college and university campuses, women are the top degree earners, but they are not represented in executive leadership roles in higher education. The purpose of this quantitative study is to examine university staff perception of career advancement by investigating how independent variables—demographics, challenges and barriers, diversity management, career planning, work-life balance, and pay—are related to the dependent variable—careeradvancement. The study explores the perception of career advancement as a factor that may explain the gendered leadership gap. This study answers the following research questions: 1) What factors predict staff’s perception of career advancement and 2) Does an individual’s gender identity influence perception of career advancement? Statistical analysis for this study included descriptive statistics, standard multiple linear regression and an independent t-test. The results of the study reported pay, diversity management, and career planning as a predictor of the perception of career advancement. Furthermore, the study found that perception of career advancement was not influenced by gender identity. The findings from this study adds to the body of literature on career advancement in higher education, with specific focus on staff’s perception of career advancement.
Suggested Citation
Washington, Whitney K., "Gender equity: The perception of career advancement in higher education" (2024). UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 1289.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/1289