The Inland Northwest is experiencing a significant shift in higher education leadership, with an increasing number of women assuming presidential roles at colleges and universities across the region.

By mid-summer, Gonzaga University, Washington State University, Eastern Washington University, Spokane Falls Community College, and Spokane Community College will all be led by female presidents. 

Katia Passerini, of Gonzaga, will join Elizabeth Cantwell, of WSU, as the first female presidents of their respective universities when she takes the top post at the private Jesuit university on July 1. Passerini and Cantwell join Shari McMahan, of EWU, Kimberlee Messina, of SFCC, and Jenni Martin, of SCC, who all assumed president roles between 2019 and 2024.

The trend reflects a movement toward gender equity in academia and according to multiple regional presidents, highlights contributions female leaders bring to the academic community.

Cantwell, who was appointed the first female president in WSU's 135-year history, attributes the movement to three vectors of change: “We have a lot of complexity. We have a lot of change, and we have a lot of negative problems to deal with."

While Cantwell emphasizes that she’s an engineer, not a social scientist, she likens the complexity to simultaneously managing work, parenting, and household responsibilities, noting that “this kind of neurological functioning of women demonstrates that we accommodate lots of complexity.” 

She adds that women excel not only in managing this complexity but can “see the upside and define the future.” 

Martin, who became the second female president of SCC in May of 2024, says the female enrollment levels might also be reason for the trend, which she says is happening at both the local and national level.

“Women are more educated than ever before,” she says. “Our colleges and universities see more female students than male students, and … it was inevitable for that trend of leadership at the top to change, although gender dynamics have been around forever.”

While a shift in female college enrollment could influence the emergence of female leaders, Cantwell highlights a broader shift in gender enrollment. She notes that the trend isn't necessarily due to more women enrolling, but rather fewer men attending college.

“What’s keeping men from coming to college?” asks Cantwell. “We don’t know at this point, but it’s really important to think about.”

Turnover at the higher level positions, which provide more opportunities for change, is also mentioned as a potential reason for the recent trend.

“If you talked to anybody in corporate America, they would agree that running a university is the most complicated leadership role in the world today,” Cantwell says. “After five to six years of doing something that is really complicated, and that is changing all the time, you’re worn out. It’s not gender specific. It’s just a hard job.”

Cantwell, who serves more than 25,000 undergraduate and graduate students, previously told the Journal she relies heavily on the support of the community.

“My own approach is I am not the Imperial Queen,” she told the Journal in a podcast. “I ask for, and genuinely need, the grace of the entire community so that when it comes to difficult decisions, which happen daily, I have not only the information I need, but I have the emotional backing of the community. And I think asking for that, and to some extent maybe receiving that, makes it easier to stay in place for a long time.”

Martin says she saw an increase in turnover following the pandemic.

“COVID did teach us, especially those of us who’ve been doing the work for a while, that life is too short to not take advantage of the time you have with your family and retire and spend time with your family and friends,” Martin says. “Time with your family can’t be replaced.”

Martin adds that stereotypical female characteristics have become more accepted over the years.

“A woman who is passionate and direct and embodies what would traditionally be more of a male characteristic is seen in favor at the highest levels of leadership,” Martin says. “It’s more accepted to be direct. It’s more acceptable to be decisive.”

Messina, who has served as the president of SFCC since June 1, 2019, also highlights the strengths women bring to leadership roles. 

She emphasizes that these qualities have become particularly valuable in the post-pandemic landscape. “Women bring leadership a bit more nurturing and community building,” she says.  “We’ve all been able to come together post pandemic and focus on our student success and equity because we are very connected as a community. Women bring a diversity of perspective, and it’s best to have a good balance.”

Central to this shift, explains Messina, is having a diverse group of leaders. “It’s what ultimately helps institutions be more successful and grow,” she says. 

She adds, “Maybe it’s just Spokane. It’s just more of a welcoming environment. I can say, as a woman leader, it does feel like a very welcoming place.”

The large number of colleges and universities could also play a role, Messina adds.

“We have a large amount of riches of higher education for a city this size, and we have the two community colleges,” she says. “(We have) the connection with EWU, WSU Spokane, Gonzaga, Whitworth, and the medical school. For a smaller population to have this many resources in higher education is phenomenal.”

McMahan, who has served as EWU’s president since June 2023, says there isn’t a specific way to narrow down a reason for the trend.

She says there’s complex reasons behind leadership trends, saying, “I am sure there’s 100 different reasons, and there’s probably no right answer.” 

She emphasizes, however, the growing value institutions place on compassionate leadership. She specifically notes that places like EWU  “want to see compassionate, inclusive leaders.” In her opinion, “women have more of a tendency to have those characteristics.”

She further highlights that these qualities, inclusiveness and empathy, are particularly crucial in today’s climate.

“I think we are really starving for that right now,” she says.