Page 38 - 2022-Jour_88-3_FINAL

the willingness to step forward and lead” (p. 50). Effective leadership is essential
more than ever today in the current age of change.
A study conducted by Kunreuther (2005) suggested a gap would develop
between the number of leaders leaving the field of leadership and the new talent
replacing them (p. 2). Unfortunately, Kunreuther’s 2005 predictions were realized,
as reported by Leslie (2015) in research for the Center for Creative Leadership.
Leslie’s study found the leadership skills gap still existed with the retirement of
Dr. Kaye Bennett Dotson, large numbers of Baby Boomers, changes in work, and poor organizational practices
Associate Professor/ toward identifying, selecting, and developing talent (2015).
Internship Director and As Baby Boomers “edge” out of leadership, the leadership gap will expand
past Program Director
for the Library Science to the Generation X’ers (Kunreuther, 2005) and Millennials. Support of the next
Program at East Carolina generation of leaders who are “poised to shape and drive the work” (p. 3) of the
University, Greenville, organization is a widespread concern.
North Carolina, is a A major leadership challenge according to Kunreuther (2005) is the frustration
member of Beta Upsilon and impatience of everything moving at a slow pace. To help move leadership
Chapter, where she forward and to prepare for the next generation of leaders, Kunreuther (2005)
served as president,
2018–2019. She recently recommended the following: (1) invest in younger leaders, (2) identify and nurture
published The Value of more leaders of color, (3) make it viable for directors (presidents) to leave, (4)
Games: Putting Play Back broaden intergenerational discussions, (5) examine current organizational structures
into Practice for Children. and expectations, and (6) promote a healthier balance between work and personal/
dotsonl@ecu.edu family life. The organization under review in this study considered these concepts in
its examination of past leadership.

Purposes
The purpose of this study grew from a need to understand the perceived
challenges that face presidents of civic organizations and social groups as they
move into the next generation of leadership. Past leaders can play a vital role in
encouraging the next generation of leaders. This study examined presidents of Beta
Upsilon Chapter of North Carolina State Organization of The Delta Kappa Gamma
Society International from 1970–2021, identifying roles and the development of
leadership of those presidents.

Research Questions
Three research questions guided this study:
1. What kinds of significant experiences lead to the development of leadership
skills for presidents in women’s education societies?
2. What are the goals, outcomes, challenges, and successes of the president?
3. What can women educators with experience as past presidents teach us about
how to promote effective leadership for women in the educational field?

Participants
Participants of this study were past presidents of Beta Upsilon Chapter from
1970–2021, including the chapter’s current president. A total of 26 women had served
in the role of president since the beginning of the chapter in 1970. Fourteen of the 26
presidents were surviving and available for interview for this study. One surviving
president did not participate because of personal and health reasons. Thirteen of the
surviving presidents participated in interviews, while information on those no longer
surviving was available in chapter archives and was used in the description of each

36 The Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin: International Journal for Professional Educators