For several months, I’ve had the pleasure of working with a team of outstanding women to prepare a session for the ACPA Indianapolis Convention. We have pulled together a combination of current literature and research to take the oh-so-common “Work Life Balance” conversation a few steps further.
ACPA Program: Beyond Work-Life Balance: Leaning In & Daring Greatly
Tuesday, April 1, 2014 1:30-2:30 PM EST — Indiana Convention Center, 238
As women in student affairs, we regularly challenge others to grow, to be comfortable with the unknown, and to be empowered to make tough decisions. We continually practice empathy and vulnerability within our profession, but often struggle to practice those lessons with regard to our own professional growth. Grounded in the work of Brené Brown (Daring Greatly) and Sheryl Sandberg (Lean In), participants will identify and develop steps to address congruence and dissonance between the authentic self and professional identity.
Women have made strides in education, outnumbering men in college enrollment for more than 30 years – and yet – women still hold only 45 percent of tenure-track faculty positions and 31 percent of tenure positions (Branch-Brioso, 2009). Administratively, women hold just 23 percent of college and university presidencies (Branch-Brioso, 2009). Knowledge, skills, and reflection on leadership development is needed for women who aspire to leadership roles, and men and women who can sponsor and mentor them. While all women may not aspire to the presidency or to be a Senior Student Affairs Officer, the ability to create and implement a professional development plan, goals, and a support network are critical for all women in higher education.
Presentation Team
Becca Obergefell, Ohio Dominican University, Kelley Stier, Purdue University, Melissa Robertson, Purdue University, Valerie Heruska, Indiana University (from l-r)
Melissa, Val, Kelley, and Becca have each read the related literature, participated in small group discussions, and/or facilitated book clubs discussions relating the texts to Higher Education. Additionally, each has presented at a regional or national conference(s) on women’s leadership and/or using technology to develop mentoring and support networks for women in higher education.
Backchannel
Follow the conversation around this presentation with #ACPADare on Twitter from wherever you are. Get general program updates from Twitter: follow @ACPAConvention, visit convention.myacpa.org/schedule or download Guidebook, the conference app. Follow all convention conversations on Twitter using the hashtag #acpa14
Further Reading
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, Brene Brown, Ph.D., LMSW Brown is a world-renowned Social Work professor who researches shame and vulnerability. Her extensive research and practice come together in this book, exploring the way authenticity, perfectionism, resiliency, and gratitude can help and hinder our desire and ability to cultivate meaningful work.
Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, Sheryl Sandberg Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg combines anecdotes, research, and powerful data to paint a portrait of women in the workforce, and the lack of women in leadership roles across multiple industries. Her work challenges the myth of “Having it All” and accepting a standard model of Work-Life-Balance. In exposing these myths, Sandberg opens up a dialogue for women on career development, sponsorship, and self-advocacy.
