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1st appeared
06
March 2000
Santa Cruz Chancellor Shares Leadership Strategies Although women account for 64 percent of the total workforce at the University of California, only 27 percent of them hold senior management positions, according to the UC Office of the President. And a mere 5 percent of UC’s top executives are minority women. Continuing to work to empower women in academia with the skills and knowledge that it takes to excel at UC, the UCSF Center for Gender Equity is sponsoring "Women Leadership 2000: A Symposium for Women in University Settings," Thursday and Friday, March 9 and 10, at the Cathedral Hill Hotel in San Francisco. "Although university women have made progress reaching higher management levels -- two out of four UCSF deans are women – by and large women faculty have not achieved parity with men in tenure track positions," says Amy Levine, director of the Center for Gender Equity. "Staff women still remain clustered in clerical positions." Levine says that while the issue of the glass ceiling has been well publicized, the center continues to help women overcome what she calls a "sticky floor." This week’s conference will address the gender gap in power and position as well as personal issues such as sexuality and financial planning. "This is a dynamic opportunity to examine how women can achieve positions of leadership in higher education. Participants from all of the UC campuses will network and enhance their personal and professional skills in several workshops in three general areas: leadership, communication and personal development," Levine says.
Greenwood, who also holds a UCSC appointment as professor of biology, came to UC Santa Cruz after serving in various leadership roles at UC Davis. She graduated summa cum laude from Vassar College and received her PhD from the Rockefeller University. Her research interests are in developmental cell biology, genetics, physiology, nutrition, and science and higher education policy issues. Her work over the past 25 years, focusing on the genetic causes of obesity, is recognized worldwide. In an interview last week, Greenwood gave a preview of what has propelled her to the top: Q: Who or what do you credit for your professional success at the University of California? A: I have been fortunate in my career at the University of California to have had a number of individuals who have encouraged me to take on difficult tasks and have supported me while I have done so. I also credit my sense of humor and the good fortune to have been born with substantial energy in this process. Q: What personal characteristics do you believe you possess that have helped you climb the University ladder? A: Early in my career I was passionately involved in my research and teaching and always believed that mastery of the material, whether scientific, teaching or administrative, was critical. Later on, the ability to listen to different points of view and to create an agenda with others as opposed to bringing an agenda helped move projects along. Q: Why is it important to have women leadership at the University? A: The real issue here is to have leadership at the University and the important issue is to have a variety of different points of view in our leadership. Women bring their own talents, as do minorities, and for the health of the institution, we need to have more women and minorities in leadership roles. Q: What concrete advice can you give junior faculty and staff to get promoted? A: Understand the processes by which you are evaluated, don’t be afraid of them, be prepared to utilize constructive criticism, and work hard. Q: What have you done at UCSC that fosters an environment that strives for gender equity? A: Probably not enough, but I do my best to encourage women to aspire to leadership roles, to identify women for positions, and to encourage an environment of open communication. I am also a big supporter individually of issues that particularly concern women and have spoken nationally on women’s issues in science, engineering and technology. Source: Lisa Cisneros, Newsbreak Editor |
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As
one of only two women chancellors in the University of California,
M.R.C. Greenwood, Chancellor of UC Santa Cruz since July 1996, will
share her career experiences and offer advice on how to succeed. She
will participate in a panel discussion with other women leaders at
Thursday’s session.