Sharing Our Stories 2.19.09

Personal and Professional Journeys of Women Leaders:A Worldwide Perspective : 

Personal and Professional Journeys of Women Leaders:A Worldwide Perspective Dr. Helen C. Sobehart Dr. Linda L. Lyman President Professor Cardinal Stritch University Illinois State University (hsobehart@stritch.edu) (llyman@ilstu.edu)

INTRODUCTION : 

INTRODUCTION 2007 Rome Conference – “Sharing the Spirit, Fanning the Flame: Women Leading Education Across the Continents” A partnership of AASA, UCEA, and Duquesne University Purpose Develop the first scholarly compilation on women in educational leadership around the globe Participating Scholars 37 scholars representing 18 countries and all continents

ONGOING GOALS : 

ONGOING GOALS Gender Audit Document the status of diverse women in educational leadership across continents Sharing Our Stories Collect experiences of women leaders internationally, including the stories of initial participants Future Conferences Gather together regularly, powerfully, and purposefully in the future to expand the community of leaders and learners

SHARING OUR STORIES : 

SHARING OUR STORIES “The woman was in the flame, but not consumed by it. Rather, it flowed from her.” Hildegard of Bingen – 12th century, Germany

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL JOURNEYS : 

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL JOURNEYS Ten stories Current professional position Birthplace and family of origin A turning point . . . A quotation Commentary First job Family today

Sister Dr. Hellen Bandiho : 

Sister Dr. Hellen Bandiho Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration, St. Augustine University of Tanzania 2nd born of 8 to parents who were small-scale village farmers Left home at age 10 to attend boarding school of the Sisters of St. Therese and never looked back “I found my voice through doctoral study at Duquesne University and integrated the spiritual element into my vision of leadership.”

Dr. Alice Merab Kagoda : 

Dr. Alice Merab Kagoda Deputy Dean of the School of Education – Makerere University in Kampala 5th born in family of 7 girls and 2 boys in rural Uganda Secondary school was a time of awakening to a new goal “My father was a great source of inspiration for me because of his love, encouragement, and confidence that I would go to the University.”

Dr. Anastasia Athanasoula-Reppa : 

Dr. Anastasia Athanasoula-Reppa Professor in Ed Policy and VP of Dept. of Pedagogical Studies, ASPETE, Athens, Greece Firstborn of 3 girls and 2 boys, in western Greek village of Arta At Panteion University in Athens, was active in the 1973 student uprising that overthrew the ruling military dictatorship “I was responsible for my life since I was 12 years old.”

Dr. Angeliki Lazaridou : 

Dr. Angeliki Lazaridou Co-coordinator of Ed Admin program, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece Carefree childhood in Athens with brother and parents First female in her family to graduate, her University experience was a turning point “My mother’s reaction to my undertaking doctoral studies in Canada was ‘who will marry you if you have a Ph.D.?’ ”

Dr. Marianne Coleman : 

Dr. Marianne Coleman Senior Lecturer and Assistant Dean of Research, University of London, RETIRED Grew up an only child in house of 5 adults in Leeds, England Being an AFS exchange student in Texas at age 16 led to later international work and travel “Every woman who has children and a job or career is faced with difficult decisions.”

Dr. Rosangela Malachias : 

Dr. Rosangela Malachias Journalist and Communication Consultant who uses media to teach public school teachers in Brazil how to reduce racism and prejudice Grew up in Sao Paulo with parents, 1 brother, and beloved grandmother Awoke to a new activist reality at age 25 after hearing a speech by a powerful black woman lawyer “The dreams come true.”

Dr. Esther Sui-Chu Ho : 

Dr. Esther Sui-Chu Ho Professor and Director of Hong Kong Centre for International Student Assessment at CUHK 2nd girl in family of 2 girls and 2 boys – age 5 when father died Elder sister went to work at age 11 so Esther could continue her education “Balancing my work and family life is still and always my major concern.”

Dr. Pamela Lenz : 

Dr. Pamela Lenz Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Erie, Pennsylvania Eldest of 2 girls in an upper middle-class American family Chose to move on after 30 years to a new position in a new district “It is just as important to think of those you are leaving, to think of how to do it well and not devalue relationships forged over years.”

Dr. Linda Lyman : 

Dr. Linda Lyman Professor of Educational Leadership at Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois Grew up with 1 sister in a typical midwestern town in Kansas Left home for a doctoral program after 16 years as a stay-at-home mom “My personal and professional journeys have been not only intertwining but inseparable.”

Dr. Helen Sobehart : 

Dr. Helen Sobehart President of Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, WI Grew up with 1 sister, 4 years older, in a working class neighborhood in Pittsburgh Chose a new career in higher education administration, after retiring as a superintendent, and continues “to make a difference” “Don’t let them take the power from you.”

SIX COMMON THEMES : 

SIX COMMON THEMES Listen for how each theme may resonate with you.

Theme One : 

Theme One CHILDHOOD CHALLENGES OFTEN INCLUDED LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES “When I was five my family was balanced between the working class and the lower middle class. My grandparents contributed financially to the household, and after they died money was very short and we took in lodgers to make ends meet, and I was very aware of money worries.” “We lived in poverty and it was really hard for my parents to nourish three children. Thus, they decided to send me, at the age of four, to live with my grandfather and my grandmother (my father’s parents) in the mountainous village of Makrykampo.” Two quotations representative of 6 out of 10 participants

Theme Two : 

Theme Two EDUCATION WAS RECOGNIZED AS AN IMPORTANT PATHWAY TO AN ENHANCED LIFE “Education in Uganda is a privilege, not a right, for most people in rural areas and among the urban poor. This privilege of acquiring higher education in this period of time by a girl child was the first empowering tool I received compared to my age-mates I left behind.” “Educational attainment gives status and a voice to express ideas, to be held in respect.” “My grandmother was a public servant who cleaned schools. When I was five years old she told me: ‘You don’t have to be a servant like me. If you study, you can have a better profession.’” Three quotations representative of 7 out of 10 participants

Theme Three : 

Theme Three LIFE EXPERIENCES CREATED AN AWAKENING TO GENDER AND OTHER SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES “As I look back on my career and life so far it is clear to me that issues of social justice; first class, then gender, and later diversity are of key importance to me. For me and my family education was a way to develop and move on, although the restraining influences of social class and gender were limitations.” “We were educated to claim human rights and fight for the oppressed individuals and populations.” “When I heard a prominent black woman lawyer lecture about her life and struggle against prejudice and discrimination, I awoke to ‘a new reality’: I was a black woman too, who received a low salary while my white colleagues received 3 times more.” Three quotations representative of 7 out of 10 participants

Theme Four : 

Theme Four BALANCING A CAREER AND A FAMILY OR PERSONAL LIFE IS AN ONGOING STRUGGLE “While I had the courage to use the power that I had professionally, I did not give voice to my inner self that was struggling with what success meant personally. So I, like so many others, became Superwoman . . . all the while building up powerful, internal emotions of guilt, fear, jealousy, and anger.” “I have met those whose professional successes have come at great expense to their identity as a person. Around other bends I have met those who have intentionally chosen to share their gifts with only family and a small group of acquaintances. I am searching for the crossroads where these paths intersect.” Two quotations representative of 8 out of 10 participants

Theme Five : 

Theme Five PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS SUPPORTED AND ENCOURAGED EDUCATION “Although not much educated themselves, my parents valued education and hard work. My parents instilled in us from young ages the importance of education and supported our educational journeys.” “My mother gave me the loving, moral and psychological support which kept me in school.” “My mother worked to earn the basic living and our grandmother took care of us. My accomplishments would have been impossible without the support of my mother and sacrifices of my elder sister.” Three quotations representative of 10 out of 10 participants

Theme Six : 

Theme Six PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL JOURNEYS INTERTWINED, INVOLVED ‘LEAVING HOME’ “After the completion of my degree abroad, I returned home stronger and more mature than before I left. I was richer in experiences and more knowledgeable about myself. I had overcome my former self and been reborn into a new person.” “My professional journey began in the midst of a personal journey I had not planned to take. Divorce had never been an option. But if not for that journey I would not have moved 200 miles from home at 46 for a doctoral program, nor become a professor. I left my home in Kansas at 18 not understanding that I would need to leave home many times to become myself.” Two quotations representative of 10 out of 10 participants

INVITATION & CONCLUDING VIDEO : 

INVITATION & CONCLUDING VIDEO Invitation 2009 WLE Conference University of Augsburg, Germany, September 16-18 AASA members are invited to attend Book from 2007 WLE Conference is available Women Leading Education Across the Continents Edited by Helen C. Sobehart, Rowman & Littlefield Education Concluding Video Filmed at October 2008 gathering of 2007 WLE scholars for the inauguration of Dr. Helen C. Sobehart as first lay president of Cardinal Stritch University