As more women are being promoted to positions that serve as steppingstones to deanships, the gap between women and men in leadership roles at US business schools is steadily narrowing. Research conducted by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business revealed that in 2023-24, women deans at 368 US business schools made up 30% of the total, a significant increase from 17% in 2007-08. Additionally, the AACSB study found that women now hold 43% of associate business school dean positions, which often serve as a pathway to deanships, with 34% of current deans previously holding this role.
Despite this progress, women still fall behind men significantly in terms of deanships. Many of the women who currently serve as deans have faced years of underrepresentation as faculty members and in leadership roles. According to Sharon Matusik, dean of the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, many women who currently serve as deans have had to work hard to overcome these obstacles and achieve success in their careers.
In conclusion, while the number of women in leadership roles at US business schools is on the rise, there is still work to be done to achieve gender parity in deanships. The progress made in promoting women to associate dean positions is encouraging, but efforts must continue to ensure that women have equal opportunities for advancement and representation in top leadership roles. As Matusik notes, “We need to continue pushing for change and working towards a future where all individuals have equal opportunities for success regardless of their gender.”
