Who is Sitting in the Chair? Job Satisfaction of Women and Men Department Leaders

Abstract

This study explores an understudied yet critically important role in higher education: the academic department chair. Building on research related to the gendered organization of faculty life and using a national sample of department leaders per the COACHE Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey (n = 1,173), we use descriptive discriminant analysis to identify the set of factors that differentiate between the job satisfaction of women and men who hold department leadership positions at four-year colleges and universities. Findings indicate a clear difference between women and men department leaders in how satisfied they are with their jobs, particularly when it comes to time spent on research, salary, and beliefs about the importance of mentoring. Recommendations and implications for academic leadership are discussed.