- 33 percent of Roman Catholic colleges have women as presidents, down from 36 percent in 2003.
- That figure is still higher than the percent of female presidents at all colleges nationwide, which is just over 25 percent.
- Critics worry that the downward trend in female presidents serving at schools that have traditionally had women presidents may be difficult to reverse.
From the article:
In the days when few colleges even imagined a woman as their leader, there was one corner of academe where women ruled: Roman Catholic colleges.
Until the late 20th century, a Catholic college president was more likely than not to lead a women's college, and to do so in wimple and veil rather than suit and tie. But as women have risen to the top job at more colleges overall, they’ve lost ground in Catholic higher education, their ranks dwindling as colleges went coed and lay leaders replaced nuns. ...