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How College Leaders’ Traits Have Changed Over 5 Years

August 26, 2012

Demographics
Female 26.4% 23.0%
Minority 12.6% 13.6%
Currently married 85.0% 83.2%
Has children 85.3% 85.7%
Average age 60.7 59.9

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How College Leaders’ Traits Have Changed Over 5 Years

Chief executives are more likely to be female but less likely to be a member of a minority group or single than in 2006. A greater share served as provosts immediately before becoming president, and a smaller share came to their posts from outside academe.

	2011	2006
Demographics
Female	26.4%	23.0%
Minority	12.6%	13.6%
Currently married	85.0%	83.2%
Has children	85.3%	85.7%
Average age	60.7	59.9
Career history
Average years in present job	7.0	8.5
Prior position was president or chief executive	19.5%	21.4%
Prior position was chief academic officer	34.0%	31.4%
Prior position was senior executive	22.5%	29.6%
Prior position was outside higher education	11.4%	13.1%
Has never been a faculty member	30.4%	31.1%
Has ever worked outside higher education	47.8%	63.0%
Education
Has a Ph.D. or Ed.D.	76.8%	75.0%
Presidents’ top 3 fields of study
Education or higher education	37.7%	43.0%
Social sciences	11.9%	13.8%
Humanities	14.2%	13.7%

Source: American Council on Education