Women in Leadership

The number of women faculty and senior administrators in theological education is growing, although their percentage remains smaller than the percentage of women students. In this targeted area of ATS work, the Association provides educational support for women faculty and administrators and assists schools in their efforts to include more women in leadership positions. A recent survey study of participants—generously funded by a grant of $150,000 from the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation—in past Women in Leadership (WIL) programs regarding their experiences and a survey study of women currently in faculty and/or administrative roles regarding perceptions and opinions about their work in theological education, yielded findings that will guide future programming for women in leadership.

The 20-year history of ATS work with women in leadership—celebrated in February 2018—includes a broad spectrum of support and advocacy for female faculty, students, and administrators. The comprehensive four-year WIL program, funded by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation in 1997, enabled fall and spring gatherings of women at varied stages of their vocations. In addition to Engage ATS (an online community for those who work at ATS member schools to network and share resources), the WIL program traditionally hosts two conferences: an Advancing Women in Leadership Conference in odd numbered years and an Emerging Women in Leadership Conference in even numbered years.

The Association has continued its educational support for women administrators and faculty members through annual fall conferences, periodic preconferences for women presidents and deans, and occasional preconference sessions for midcareer women faculty.  More recent programming includes a mentoring program and newly developed fall and spring virtual summits.