Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

Spring 4-15-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

April 2026

Department

Educational Leadership and Research Methodology

College Granting Degree

College of Education

Department Granting Degree

Educational Leadership and Research Methodology

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Deborah L. Floyd

Thesis/Dissertation Co-Chair

Patricia Maslin-Ostrowski

Abstract

This qualitative narrative study examined the career pathways and lived leadership experiences of women serving in senior-level administrative roles within Division I intercollegiate athletics, a traditionally male-dominated industry. Guided by a crucible leadership framework, the study explored how formative experiences shaped participants’ leadership development, professional advancement, and persistence. Nine women who currently or previously served as senior-level administrative leaders participated in the study. Data were collected using an adapted version of Seidman’s three-interview series, supplemented by document analysis and a demographic survey to support triangulation. Interviews were organized into three phases to chronologically capture participants’ career trajectories.

The findings are organized into three thematic areas: crucible leadership experiences across career stages; strategies for navigating professional challenges and successes; and career insights for aspiring leaders. The findings affirm that there is no single, prescribed pathway to leadership. Each participant’s journey was distinct, with individual choices, opportunities, challenges, and pivotal experiences that influenced her professional growth. While their routes differed, common threads emerged: the critical role of support systems, intentional learning and decision making, resilience, challenges attributed to gender, and an unwavering work ethic.

Policy recommendations emphasize the NCAA’s governance and the need for updated responsive policies. Practice recommendations focus on the need for a better understanding of how women enter the profession, the benefits of having a mentor or champion, and how shifts within the college athletics industry shape career trajectories. Future research is needed on women’s advancement and how changes in the college athletics industry impact women’s careers.

The study reinforces that leadership development is both personal and contextual. Advancement in college athletic departments is not defined by a single model nor by gender, but shaped by purpose, persistence, and the courage to navigate one’s own path.

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