Late last month, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology named Susan Hockfield its first female president, adding to a growing number of women in leadership positions at some of the nation's top colleges and universities.

However, a recent survey conducted by the American Council on Education (ACE) reveals that private and doctoral-granting institutions like MIT continue to have the smallest percentage of women presidents, at 9 percent.

ACE's most recent study, The American College President (2002 Edition), conducted in 2001, includes information from 2,594 college and university presidents.

The study shows the total percentage of women presidents more than doubled from about 10 percent in 1986 to 21 percent of the total in 2001. However, the majority of those women are at two-year institutions and liberal arts and women's colleges.

Additionally, the survey reveals that women make up 40 percent of all faculty and senior staff. While there has never been a woman president at Penn State, Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon said there is nothing that would preclude a woman from being able to become president.

"Although Penn State has never had a woman appointed president, there are several women who are senior leaders or vice presidents here with enormous responsibilities," Mahon said. "Given the size and scope of Penn State, these women essentially have greater responsibilities than a number of presidents at other colleges and universities."

Mary Faulkner (graduate-history) said she believes Penn State has a fair number of women at upper level positions.

"I think that Penn State does a good job at having women at high-level positions," Faulkner said. "Even if women faculty and administrators are outnumbered at Penn State, there are still many who hold quality positions here."

Robert Drago, professor of labor studies and women's studies, said it is not surprising Penn State has never had a woman president.

"Unfortunately, the fact that we have never had a woman president shows that Penn State is pretty typical amongst universities," Drago said. "There are very few institutions with women presidents, but I think Penn State has made a lot of good improvements over the years in making the university more open to women."

Mahon also said a number of women leaders at Penn State have left to become presidents at other universities, including Kent State University President Carol A. Cartwright, who served as Penn State's dean for undergraduate programs and vice provost between 1984 and 1988. Cartwright was appointed to her current position in 1991.

Claire Van Ummersen, ACE vice president and director of the Office of Women in Higher Education, said women in top positions at universities are an important asset to higher education.

"I believe more women are able to work in a collaborative fashion and share leadership responsibilities," Ummersen said. "There are a number of male presidents who tend to be competitive or have difficulty sharing power."

Ummersen also said having women presidents at higher education institutions would help show women students that they can rise to higher positions in the work place.

"If you look at the student population in colleges and universities across the country, the majority of the population is women," Ummersen said. "It is important that women have a sense that they can aspire to senior leadership positions."

Liz Clemens (sophomore-division of undergraduate studies) said she believes women have a much greater chance today to be successful in higher education, but it is more difficult for women than men to reach top positions at universities.

"I think that the opportunity for education and success is equal for men and women today and both sexes are able to start on the same level," Clemens said.

Ummersen said the ACE would release its next report in 2006.