Chapter 20: Women Senior Student Affairs Officers at Four-Year Public Institutions: Work–Life Integration and Mentorship

Since the beginning of the student affairs profession, men have dominated senior level positions. While women are earning every degree type at a higher rate than their male counterparts, there are more women in entry and mid-level positions that often feel stuck in these roles as they seek advancement to a Senior Student Affairs Officer (SSAO) position. Whereas the gender gap has dramatically decreased over time at four-year private institutions, the largest gender gap within SSAO positions continues to exist at four-year public institutions. Using a phenomenological approach, this qualitative study explored the career trajectories of 15 current women SSAOs at four-year public institutions, examining factors that led to their success and challenges related to their gender. Critical feminist theory was the theoretical framework used to undergird the study and to help examine gender inequalities. Two salient themes arose from the data: the inability to achieve work–life balance was the biggest roadblock to the SSAO position and mentorship was noted as a significant factor that led to their success. Implications for future research and practice are shared.