# METOO – A Different Twist
Mar
12
Written by:
3/12/2018 7:59 AM
It is almost impossible to get through another news day without adding someone else’s name to the list of the Me Too explosion. That said, there is a different slant on Me Too for discussion. It has very little to do with sexual harassment, but a lot to do with equity.
Recently in a Presidential Search for a well-known, urban community college in the heart of the Midwest, the search went extraordinarily well from a statistical perspective, ending with nearly Preferred candidates out of 75 applicants, according to the search committee’s criteria. However, of that number, only eleven (11) women applied and earned a preferred ranking: eleven out of 38, slightly less than 30%.
Yet, while women now compose over 56% of all college students according to USA Today College, a new national survey in June of 2017 indicates that only 30% of college presidents are women. This replicates the above findings. Even more dismal is the statistic about minority presidents, now only at 17%.
But there is a way out of this conundrum. Nearly 60% of all women presidents are over 60 and looking toward retirement by 2022. This could leave an open door to add more women and minorities to the CEO ranks. According to Montana State President Waded Cruzado as interviewed by The Chronicle, “Women by nature, tend to second guess their talents and experience. It is vitally important for women to examine themselves ruthlessly and then to forge ahead with courage and optimism.”
It is time to plan for more Presidents that resemble their diverse student population. March 8 is officially International Womens’ Day. Women have much to offer. According to Carol Ruckel, Trustee at Aims Community College, “Women often thrive in top leadership positions because they recognize the nuances in human interaction and temper their own actions accordingly”. Come on, ladies, join the other ME TOO movement.