New MSL Article Published: Leadership Capacity, Efficacy of Women in STEM Fields

Developing the leadership capacity and leader efficacy of college women in science, technology, engineering, and math fields.

Recently, the Journal of Leadership Studies published John Dugan, Kimberly Fath, Shannon Howes, Kathryn Lavelle, and Joshua Polanin’s article that explores the experiences of women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields in developing leadership capacity and leader efficacy.

Abstract: The current study examined the extent to which college women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) majors demonstrated differential levels of leadership capacity and/or leader efficacy than their non-STEM, female peers. Data represented 14,698 women from 86 institutions of higher education in the United States. Results indicated similar levels of leadership capacity but significantly lower leader efficacy for women in STEM majors. Implications explore unique predictors of leader efficacy for women in STEM majors along with recommendations for changes to policy and professional practice that might address how the differential organizational contexts shape leadership development.

To read the full article, visit the reports and publications page here.