Satisfaction of Female Faculty at Two-Year Schools

Public two-year colleges contribute to the nation’s STEM capacity by providing a foundation for baccalaureate degree attainment, educating a skilled math and science workforce and supporting local economic development. Their female faculty represent a vital national resource, particularly in STEM fields, where they often serve as role models and mentors for female students. Yet this population continues to be understudied. This paper examines the paths that women take toward employment in STEM at community colleges as well as factors that facilitate and hinder the advancement of women in STEM at community colleges. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews with 29 women faculty at nine community colleges in Ohio. Preliminarily results indicate considerable career satisfaction among many female faculty members, but contradict a popular stereotype that “community colleges make life easier for women with families.”.