Abstract
In this Dissertation in Practice (DIP), the lived experiences of professional women who have chosen to leave their jobs in higher education in Indiana are explored. The purpose of the qualitative phenomenological study is to communicate the essence of their lived experiences with leadership development in Indiana higher education. The aim is to develop a set of recommendations designed to raise awareness among administrators and HR departments in higher education institutions within the state, with a goal of shepherding more women into leadership positions within Indiana colleges and universities. This DIP document contains a proposal section, including literature review, a submission-ready manuscript that will be submitted to the Journal of Women and Gender in Higher Education, as well as a practitioner recommendation plan.Keywords: Indiana, higher education, leadership development, women in leadership, phenomenology