The Career Lines of Chief Academic Officers in Public Community Colleges

Abstract

Administrative careers in higher education have typically been examined from an individual orientation, placing attention on the demographics and background characteristics of those holding a particular office. This study follows the structural perspective, examining the sequence of positions held by individuals who currently occupy the position of chief academic officer (CAO) in public community colleges. Six, three-sequence career lines are identified, representing the experiences of 43.9% of the sample. In addition, a faculty position emerges as the most common entry port to the career lines and the community college labor market.