Since 1973, the Office of Higher Education (Office of Women in Higher Education, a division of the American Council on Education) has served to promote the advancement of women leaders in higher education.  The office seeks to advance women’s leadership by identifying women leaders nationally in higher education through extensive networks, developing women’s leadership abilities through state and national programs and encouraging women to use those abilities.  OWHE functions to link women leaders to one another and supports the tenure of mid- and senior-level women administrators and presidents through their careers.

Recently, UK President Lee T. Todd, Jr. agreed to serve as a Presidential Sponsor for the development of a Kentucky OWHE Network. 

The immediate goal for 2007 is to begin a dialogue to foster commitment on the part of the attendees to support the Kentucky Network.  Goals that will be discussed include the development of an infrastructure that can efficiently promote women leaders in higher education in Kentucky and sustain this endeavor.  Through the development of an advisory board consisting of men and women presidents from across the state, a state planning committee comprised of senior-level women, an institutional representative panel to provide feedback and creativity, and a media/communication plan to provide community interaction, the outcome of this effort to establish the Kentucky Network will provide stronger women leadership for Kentucky’s higher education and will advance Kentucky in efforts toward women’s equity, diversity and advancement nationally.

Click here for a list of the Advisory Board Members

Here are some pictures from the March 2007 Planning Dinner that took place at the Lafayette Club in downtown Lexington where 7 out of the 8 Kentucky State Universities were represented.