Beyond Crisis: Feminist Leadership and Public Universities
March 19, 2024
In her March 16 presentation, UW Geography Department Chair Dr. Sarah Elwood-Faustino shared the principles of feminist leadership that have guided her for the last five years as department chair and will again when she returns to the position from sabbatical.
Explaining the rise of the discipline as a result of European colonization, she said it’s now “the why of where.” Having been taught how to learn, some technical skills, writing, and team-building, graduates find work in various STEM-related fields.
There’s no “leadership for chairs” class at the UW, so Professor Elwood-Faustino assembled her own Leadership Club 9-1-1. Her approach is one of radical welcome, affirmative invitation into new roles, fostering relationships among faculty and students, and changing the culture through processes that are more equitable and favorable to underrepresented people.
She sees power as a fabric wrinkled by past harm and injustices and seeks to flatten it. Noticing past harm, seeking to heal it, and planning to prevent future harm are major parts of her chairing philosophy.
Rather than inviting a free-for-all by asking faculty for their opinions about big issues, Dr. Elwood-Faustino divides big issues into steps, each addressed by “what do you need to know to form an opinion about this” and then “how should we proceed.” Faculty members are invited to share thoughts by reverse seniority, part of ensuring all voices are heard.
Sarah’s humor and radically welcoming attitude shone throughout her presentation and her answers to questions.
