Age discrimination is less of an issue at community colleges than at research institutions says Martha Nesbitt, president of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges. Nesbitt does note that women who become community college administrators tend to be older than their male counterparts. If you look at the total number of women presidents at community colleges, women still have not achieved parity with men. To raise issues that women are confronting they need to push for the time, space, and formats required to prioritize action steps. This requires more than a commission on women.
Administration shapes the climate for moving forward, so campus leadership involvement is essential.
At the beginning of a career the experts interviewed for this article suggested women find a niche within a field and build expertise in that area. Active involvement in a professional organization and strong networking skills provide a wide net that can help with future job opportunities. It also helps to develop a group of colleagues and friends for professional and personal support. As they move through their careers, senior women offer invaluable opportunities for mentoring and role modeling. One of the benefits of aging is that one no longer needs to analyze the positive changes in one s life in order to savor them.