Many of us here at Diverse have been privileged to meet dynamic women in the world of higher education and beyond. They lead some of the most demanding and consequential organizations and programs on the planet. No longer sitting on the decision-making sidelines, they have shattered the glass ceiling and, subsequently, have introduced new ways of thinking about and approaching leadership.
As the editorial team sat down to plan the Women’s History Month edition for 2012, the team thought it
would be appropriate to introduce a sampling of these women to all of our readers. This list is by no means
exhaustive. Easily, the staff could have come up with 50 or 100 women whose accomplishments would merit
inclusion in this group of extraordinary women. So trying to choose 25 was a major challenge, but we relished
the opportunity to introduce these women to the readers who may not know these outstanding leaders in
their respective fields. This list represents a small sampling of what we all know to be true — when it comes to leadLEXership, women are now taking on long overdue roles.
We consider these 25 women representative of the noteworthy traits and characteristics found throughout the academy and beyond. Their ranks will continue to grow and spread. We hope that these women will provide encouragement to their colleagues as well as those who will follow in their esteemed footsteps. -The Editors
When Myrna Adams retired in 2003 as Duke University’s first vice president of institutional equity, she was hailed for “her commitment and passion to issues of equal opportunity, respect for individuals and trying to make Duke a better place for everybody.” Hallmarks of Adams’ efforts at Duke included making the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration a university-wide commemoration, leading a committee that worked to resolve the challenges faced by Hispanic workers and training employees to serve as mediators to resolve issues before they were filed as grievances. Adams, a trusted mentor to hundreds, now works as an organizational consultant, tackling such issues as workplace bullying. Adams holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, a master’s in counseling psychology from the University of Southern California and a law degree from Hofstra School of Law.
Lezli Baskerville served for two decades as outside counsel to the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education before becoming its first female president and CEO in 2004. As the liaison between HBCUs and state and federal governments, corporations, foundations and nonprofits, Baskerville rose to the defense of HBCUs in 2010, after a Wall Street Journal opinion piece questioned the need for such institutions. Baskerville was quoted as saying, “The data demonstrate clearly that HBCUs are doing the heavy lifting of educating Black students, especially in growth and high-need disciplines.” Baskerville received her bachelor’s degree from Douglass College in New Jersey and a law degree from Howard University.
