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The report, "No Template When Being the First: Implications for Aspiring Latina Leaders," draws on conversations with five Latina community college presidents who lead Hispanic-Serving Institutions. All were the first Latinas to hold their positions at institutions over 70 years old, where walls of presidential portraits serve as stark reminders of historically white, male leadership.
"I share a wall of presidents where I am the only person of color," one president told researchers. "I think it communicates that a path is possible and a path is being created for others."
Yet being the first carries significant burdens. More than half of Latina presidents surveyed in the 2023 American College President Study reported taking steps to address racial justice issues, but faced criticism or external inquiries about topics like critical race theory. Despite these challenges, 51.7 percent felt equipped to handle racial justice matters.
The new report reveals that Latina leaders frequently encounter assumptions that undermine their authority. Several presidents described being mistaken for support staff rather than chief executives, with one recounting how a campus visitor "asked me if I was in the right place" before spending ten minutes addressing a white man he assumed was in charge.
"I can't tell you how many times people have questioned my role," another president said. "When they say, 'What do you do?' and I go, 'I'm the president,' they think [I am] the [student body] president."
Physical appearance also becomes a flashpoint. Latina presidents reported pressure to conform to traditional leadership standards, including recommendations to wear longer dresses, muted colors, and adopt more masculine presentations.
