History of Annual Meeting Activities

Summary prepared for the Steering Committee
of the newly formed AACSB
Affinity Group for Woman Administrators in Management Education (AGWAME)

In response to requests for programmatic support for women in management education,  AACSB created a planning committee in January 1993 to develop a Gender Issues Workshop for the upcoming annual meeting.  Members included: Barbara Haskew, dean of the College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University; Dana Johnson, dean of the School of Business and Accountancy at Wake Forest University; Sidney Harris, dean of the Claremont Graduate School; Patricia Flynn, dean of the Graduate School of Business at Bentley College; and Jack Nesbitt, Director of Diversity Initiatives at AACSB.  Anita Craig, Director of Conferences, of AACSB also was involved with the initial group, and has remained actively engaged and supportive ever since.  [At the time there were six women deans at AACSB-accredited business schools.]

Following is an overview of the sessions related to women business school administrators held at subsequent AACSB annual meetings.

2000 (San Diego)

q       Women Administrators’ Workshop (Sunday, April 9th)  Morning only.
Theme:  Negotiating Strategies and Practices

Program consisted primarily of a session on Negotiation Strategies and Practices – Tools for Personal and Professional Effectiveness, with Priscilla A. Glidden, vice president of Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness, Abt Associates, Inc., Cambridge, and management professor at Bentley College.  Session description:

            Negotiations are involved in virtually every work discussion and interaction, and negotiating effectiveness often plays a significant role in our satisfaction with the outcomes.  This interactive workshop, focuses on improving relationships and the opportunities to develop creative solutions with strategies similar to ones used by trained negotiators.  In addition, ways in which women often short-change themselves with respect to achieving their goals when long-term relationships are perceived to be at stake, are examined.

P.M. Flynn
pflynn@bentley.edu
1/23/01

1999 (Atlanta)

q       Women Administrators in Business Schools Workshop (Sunday, April 18th)
Themes:  Career Paths of Women Business School Deans, and Development Issues for Women

Program included:

Presentation of findings of a survey of women business school deans conducted by Patricia Sorce, associate dean, College of Business, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Patricia Flynn, dean, Graduate School of Business, Bentley College.

Deans Panel on Alternative Routes to Becoming Dean.  Panelists:  Barbara A.P. Jones, dean, School of Business, Alabama A&M University; Dolores T. Martin, dean, W. Paul Stillman, School of Business, Seton Hall University; Dixie L. Mills, dean, College of Business, Illinois State University; and Susan M. Philips, dean, School of Business and Public Management, George Washington University.

Janet P. Atkins, senior vice president for development, CareGroup and former vice president, External Affairs, Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Virginia.

Ø       One of the outcomes of the workshop is a summary of the Career Path Survey

1998 (Chicago)

q       Women Administrators in Business Schools Workshop  (Sunday, June 14th)
Theme:  Identifying and Developing Skills for Administrative Leadership

Program included:

Marilyn J. Haring, dean, School of Education, Purdue University, “How to Develop Skills for Advancement.”  What does administrative leadership mean and what can be done with it?

Jean Dowdall, vice president and partner,  A.T. Kearney. “Meeting the Market Test with Skills and Attributes.”  What skills and attributes are sought by search committees?

Deans Panel.   “Skills and Strategies:  A Panel Presentation of What Works and What Doesn’t.”  How can skills be developed, what are the opportunities and what should be avoided in the quest?  Panelists:  Dana J. Johnson, dean, College of Business and Economics, University of Delaware;  Patricia W. Meyers, dean, College of Business Administration, Northern Arizona University;  Patricia M. Flynn, dean, Graduate School of Business, Bentley College.

1997 (Boston)

q       Women Administrators in Business Schools Workshop (Sunday, April 13th)
Theme:  Mentoring and Developing Women Leaders

Program included:

Carolyn Shaw Bell, Coman Professor of Economics, Emerita, Wellesley College,
“Mentoring:  A Career Path Helping Hand.”

Janet Greenwood, Partner, Heidrick and Struggles,  “A Door Into the Network,” Case study of resumes and position announcements.

Judith Block McLaughlin, Educational Chair, The Harvard Seminar for New Presidents, “On the Leadership Journey:  Research Findings on Developing Administrative Leaders.”

Women b-school administrators on the program (moderator, introducer, etc):  Judy Olian, acting dean of professor, College of Business and Management, University of Maryland; Lucy Reuben, dean, School of Business, South Carolina State University; Carolyn Woo, associate executive vice president for academic affairs, Purdue University, and Patricia Flynn, dean, Graduate School of Business, Bentley College.

Ø      In response to requests of workshop participants, Pat Flynn compiled a Participant Resume Book, including resumes of participants of the AACSB Women Administrators Workshops in 1996 and 1997.  This was distributed to participants and provided on request to search firms.

1996 (Los Angeles)

q       Women Administrators in Business Schools Workshop (Sunday, April 21st)
Theme:   Developing Women Business School Leaders

Program included:

Judith B. Rosener, Professor, University of California, Irvine, Graduate School of Management and author of America’s Competitive Secret:  Utilizing Women as a Management Strategy. 

Deans Panel on The Changing Nature of the Dean’s Job.  Barbara S. Haskew, provost and vice president of academic affairs, Middle Tennessee State University; John W. Seybolt, dean, University of Utah; Patricia M. Flynn, dean, Graduate School of Business.

Judith Auerbach, CEO, Auerbach Associates.  “Pathways to Leadership:  Taking Charge of Your Career.”  Remarks followed by breakout group discussions on “Demystifying the Search Process.”

Ø      One of the outcomes of the Workshop was a summary of the lunch-time discussions on Identifying and Overcoming Barriers for Women Deans.

1995 (Minneapolis)

q       Breakfast Session for Women Administrators in Business Schools. (Sunday,
April 8th.)  Informal discussion group.

q      “Problem Solving Approaches to Gender Issues on Business School Faculties”  (Tuesday, April 11th.)

            The progression of women through business school faculty ranks and into senior administrative positions continues to lag behind their representation in degree programs at all levels.  Borrowing from corporate experience, panelists at this session look beyond gender politics to offer practical ideas on how business schools can attract, develop and promote women faculty.

            James Wall, Deloitte & Touche and Patricia M. Flynn, Bentley College

1994 (Buena Vista, FL)

q       Breakfast Session for Women Administrators in Business Schools.   (Monday,
April 11th.)  Informal discussion group.

1993 (Seattle)

q      “Women Business Students: Attracting, Retaining and Preparing for Success.” (Sunday, April 18th).    CANCELED due to minimal registrations.

q       Annual Meeting Clinic:  Women and Minorities in Business Schools:  Old Issues, New Dilemma.   (Monday, April 19th).                      

            Continuing problems in attracting and retaining women and minority students and faculty at many institutions defy existing piecemeal “solutions.”  This session explores comprehensive initiatives business schools can consider at all points of the educational pipeline and steps aimed at increasing institutional sensitivity to groups of faculty and students who feel isolated in the current environment.                                     Patricia M. Flynn, Bentley College, facilitator