Emotional Intelligence and Deans: Exploring the Nature of the Emotional Intelligence of Community College Deans in the Southeastern Region of the United States.

Emotional Intelligence and Deans: Exploring the Nature of the Emotional Intelligence of Community College Deans in the Southeastern Region of the United States Irene K. Maundu Leadership is an essential aspect of community college administration. Community colleges are currently facing numerous challenges such as: above average retirement rates for administrators, funding and limited government support, diverse student populations, changes in technology, shift in teaching to student-centered learning, and steep competition. The purpose of this study was to understand the nature of the emotional intelligence of community college deans within the southeastern region of the United States of America. I used the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) to measure the emotional intelligence scores of community college deans, and a demographic questionnaire for the demographic variables. Public community college deans from the entire southeastern region of the United States of America were selected for the survey. I sent a total of 323 invitations to community college deans from 294 public community colleges in the southeastern region of the United States. Findings from this study indicated that total emotional intelligence, using emotions, and managing emotions were not statistically significant with any of the demographic characteristics. There was a significant negative relationship between gender, size of institution, level of education, and perceiving emotions. Male participants had low levels of perceiving and understanding emotions when compared with females. Level of education and experience were also significant with understanding emotions. This study provided a snapshot of the nature of the emotional intelligence of community college deans in the southeastern region of the United States, adds to the available information on emotional intelligence in general, and also provides insights for future research. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND DEANS iii Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to: My dad, Joseph Maundu, who has been supportive of me throughout my studies, inspiring, encouraging me along my journey, and believing in me even when I had doubts; My Mom, Angelina Katheu, for lending a listening ear and believing in me; My siblings, for putting up with me; and to Hillary and our kids, Carlos, Carla, and Calista. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND DEANS iv Acknowledgements Thank you God Almighty, for your mercy and grace. You guided me throughout this journey and I can bear witness of your love. May this degree bring glory and honor to your name. My deepest and sincere gratitude goes to all the wonderful people that the Lord placed into my life through this academic journey. Thank you to all my advisors: Dr. Reagan Curtis, thank you so very much for your time, support, and encouragement. I would have been lost without your guidance in statistics and data analysis. Your patience has taught me a great deal. I hope to someday become a great teacher and mentor as you. Dr. Adriane Williams, for your constant support and encouragement. You are an amazing and wonderful mentor that I will always look up to. I am honored to have had a chance to work with you. Dr. Helen Hazi, thank you for starting off this chapter of my life with me, leading me in the right direction, and supporting me to the end. Thank you for your inspiration and encouragement. Dr. Earnest Goeres, thank you for going the extra mile and lending a listening ear when things seemed impossible, for staying on the committee even unto retirement. Dr. Gerald Blakely, thank you for your encouragement through this journey. To my family: my parents Joseph Maundu and Angelina Katheu, for supporting and teaching me the value of education at a young age. Dad, thank you for encouraging and believing in me, even when I didn’t have much faith in myself. Mom, for your patience, strength, and love. Through you, I have learned the value of perseverance and forgiveness. Thank you for holding it together when things seemed impossible: to my siblings; Munyiva, Mumo, Ngene, Salima, Mbithi, and Mulendi, thank you for all your support; to my grandma, Beatrice Ngene, for all the sleepless nights you spend watching the kids for me. I can never thank you enough; to Hillary, for your support; to the kids, Carlos Kiptoo, Carla Katheu, and Calista Chebet, for all the events EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND DEANS v and time I spend away from you guys. I love you so very much and I hope to spend more quality time with you guys soon. Lastly, I acknowledge Jennifer McIntosh, through the office of social justice, for your moral and financial support; Dr. Dooley, for your inspiration and support; and to all my friends who have been with me throughout the years. Thank you all. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND DEANS vi Table of