Vanguard University aids effort to help women become university leaders in Iraq

Vanguard University is reaching beyond seas and borders to work with partners in the Ministry of Higher Education in Iraq in hopes that the cross-continental collaboration will help increase the number of women in leadership roles at Iraqi universities.

As part of the project, six Iraqi scholars arrived last week at the private Christian university in Costa Mesa so Vanguard’s faculty and staff could share research and resources to help develop a working group in the Ministry of Higher Education consisting of males and females.

“We have women as deans, but we do not have university presidents or chancellors [who are women],” said Fouad Kasim Mohammad, the ministry’s deputy for scientific research affairs. “The most important thing for us is to gain access to the experience with women in higher education. It’s a new area for us, and by cooperating with Vanguard we can hopefully gain some experience.”

Sandra Morgan, director of Vanguard’s Global Center for Women and Justice, said: “It is important that members of the working group represent Iraqi geographic, ethnic and religious diversity. As the project moves to the next level, it will foster building opportunities for professional and leadership development ... for women academics aspiring to serve as provosts, deans and presidents.”

The collaboration began after Morgan participated in discussions last fall with IREX, a Washington D.C.-based international nonprofit, to secure a State Department grant to pursue the project.

Morgan is no stranger to the educational scene in Iraq, having visited the Kurdistan region in 2009 to speak at multiple conferences and universities as part of a women’s rights delegation. She recently completed a British Council grant project with Iraq’s University of Duhok to try to increase courses for women’s studies.

“Women are involved in higher education there, but they are underrepresented in leadership roles,” Morgan said. “My goal is to equip and empower these ... members of a sustainable working group. I get to be their guide and provide a safe place to practice skills and models for them and to see the outcomes for their community.”

The Iraqi scholars — ministry representatives and faculty members from Iraqi universities — were welcomed with a reception Thursday afternoon at Vanguard attended by university, county and state dignitaries.

“We want to make changes in the attitude toward women,” Sahira Salman, a Ministry of Higher Education representative, said at the reception. “There are certain things a leader should know. We want the right information and to know the experience here to transfer it to the universities in Iraq.”

During their visit to Costa Mesa, which ends Saturday, the scholars are taking part in job shadowing with Vanguard educational leaders and discussions on embracing diversity in the academic field.

Before coming to the United States, they participated in twice-monthly professional development webinars led by Morgan, beginning in March. The next webinar is scheduled for late August.

Morgan said the team will leave Vanguard with a framework for planning the working group’s growth and stability.

“From a personal perspective, I have seen that there’s an amazing chemistry when you get Orange County people and guests from around the world together,” Morgan said. “The preconceived ideas, stereotypes and bias just fall and it creates the opportunity to have a general dialogue, respect and an opportunity of building bridges for peace.”