Harvard University recently made headlines when it appointed Drew Gilpin Faust as its first female president. But was Harvard starting a trend or following one? In this installment of "By the Numbers," the Daily examines how the gender gap among university presidents has narrowed in the past two decades - and how far it still has left to go.
9.5 Percent of college presidents who were female in 198621.1 Percent in 200123 Percent in 2006
13.8 Percent of female presidents at doctorate-granting institutions like Tufts3.8 Percent of female presidents at such institutions in 19861/4 Proportion of all "recently hired" college presidents who are women
8 Percent of two-year college presidents who were female in 198629 Percent of two-year college presidents who were female in 2006
63 Percent of female presidents who were married89 Percent of male presidents who were married
52.3 Average age of college presidents in 198659.9 Average age in 2006
42 Percentage of college presidents who were 50 or younger in 19868 Percentage of current college presidents who are 50 years old or younger
14 Percent of college presidents who were 61 years old or older in 198649 Percent of college presidents in that age group in 2006
6.3 Average length of tenure in years for college presidents in 19866.6 Average length of tenure in 20018.5 Average length of tenure in 2006
2,148 Number of college presidents involved in the American Council on Education's study in 2006
-Compiled from data from the American Council on Educations' "The American College President: 2007 Edition"
