Gender balance in leadership remains one of the most pressing challenges in higher education worldwide. Although women constitute a significant proportion of academic staff and graduates, their representation in senior leadership positions continues to lag behind. Bridging this gap is not only a matter of fairness but also a key driver of innovation, inclusivity, and institutional excellence.
As part of the EURAS Webinar Series, the session “Women in Academia: Closing the Leadership Gap” will explore the barriers women face in reaching leadership roles and highlight strategies for creating more equitable academic environments. This webinar marks the first dedicated session on women’s leadership within EURAS initiatives, aiming to inspire change by sharing global perspectives and successful practices.
Opening
* Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aydın – President of EURAS & EURIE, Istanbul Aydın University President
Moderator
* Prof. Dr. Funda Sivrikaya Şerifoğlu– Institutional Consultant to EURAS, Founding President of IWF Turkey (2013–2016), Member of the Board of Directors of IWF, Member of the IWF Educational Programs Committee; Founding Rector of Duzce University and Duzce Technopark
Distinguished Speaker: Dr. Dana H. Born, Ph.D.
* Lecturer in Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School of Government
* Senior Advisor, National Security Fellowship at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
* Retired Brigadier General, United States Air Force
Dr. Dana H. Born is a highly accomplished academic and leader with an extraordinary career that bridges higher education, public service, and the military. She served two terms as Dean of the Faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy and chaired the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership. She holds advanced degrees in psychology from Trinity University, the University of Melbourne, and Penn State University (Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology). Her distinguished career includes awards such as the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and multiple Harvard Kennedy School teaching awards.
Dr. Born contributes her expertise to numerous boards and leadership organizations, including the Midwest Reliability Organization Board (Energy), DeVry University Board of Trustees, the Air Force Academy Foundation, and the International Women’s Forum. She is recognized globally for her leadership in advancing equity, education, and ethical governance.
Through this session, Dr. Born will share her unique perspective on leadership, gender equity, and strategies to close the leadership gap in academia, inspiring institutions to empower women in senior roles and foster inclusive academic cultures.
👉 Register here to join the webinar: CLICK HERE