Experiences and Perceptions of Latina Leaders in Higher Education: A Regional Study

This dissertation focused on and discussed the experiences and perceptions of Latina women in senior level leadership positions within higher education. The problem of this study was the continued underrepresentation of Latina women in senior roles, and this was seen within the overall low percentage of women in senior roles like president, the absence of women mentorship at senior levels, and the continued barriers women face in senior-level positions. The purpose of this study was to understand how the mentoring relationships, backgrounds, and leadership experiences impact or influence the careers of Latina women leaders in higher education within the Southwest United States. To study the Latina leaders' lived experiences, a phenomenological study was used that consisted of qualitative semistructured interviews that allowed for deeper discussion into the lives of the six participants. Interview transcripts were coded for major themes and values and upon completion were sent back to the participants to ensure that member-checking occurred. With the use of the synergistic leadership theory the experiences and perspectives of the Latina leaders as well as their backgrounds, values, attitudes, beliefs, and successes are looked at holistically through a multidimensional lens. The findings showed that support networks, networking relationships, and leadership development were all necessary to the success and upward mobility of the participants. Additionally, barriers and external forces were still very much present for these women and consisted of gender bias, racial bias, and personal barriers like imposter syndrome. Keywords: synergistic leadership theory, Latina, leader, higher education, mentorship, sponsorship, coaching, family influences, leadership development, imposter syndrome, barriers, external forces, and leadership behaviors