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Trisha W. Lee, Ph.D. is a 2026 graduate of the PhD Program in Leadership and Change at Antioch University.

trisha lee committee

Trisha W. Lee at her Dissertation Defense.

From L-R: Dr. Kenneth Williams, Committee Co-Chair, Dr. Mitchell Kusy, Committee Co-Chair, Dr. Beth Mabry, Committee Member (not pictured: Dr. Joseph Keferl, Committee Member).

Dissertation Committee

  • Mitchell Kusy, PhD, Committee Co-Chair
  • Kenneth Williams, PhD, Committee Co-Chair
  • J. Beth Mabry, PhD, Committee Member
  • Joseph Keferl, RhD, Committee Member

Keywords

women leaders, nonprofit organizations, founders, successors, phenomenology, hermeneutic analysis, gender dynamics, leadership experiences, empowerment

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

Women comprise a significant portion of the nonprofit sector workforce but are underrepresented in leadership, particularly among executives in larger revenue nonprofit organizations (NPOs). This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of women who led large, local NPOs (those with annual revenues between $1 million and $5 million) in Ohio. Addressing a gap in understanding the intersection of gender and leadership in large revenue NPOs, this research compared women who were founders of their NPOs with women who ascended to leadership in established organizations. Did founding one’s own NPO provide an advantage in leading it once it grew? How did women who were not founders defy the odds to attain leadership of successful NPOs? Grounded in Husserl’s phenomenology and Gadamer’s hermeneutics, the study employed purposive sampling to recruit 10 women leaders, equally divided between founders and successors, to capture diverse pathways to leadership among women NPO executives. Data collection included semi-structured interviews and data were analyzed through a combination of in vivo, descriptive, and emotional coding with hermeneutic synthesis. The findings reveal how gender dynamics shaped experiences and approaches to overcoming challenges in nonprofit leadership. The methodology allowed a nuanced examination of how gender dynamics impacted leadership experiences and decision-making processes among women leaders in NPOs. This research aimed to highlight the importance of iv gender-informed strategies and offer insights for aspiring women leaders while acknowledging limitations, including potential regional and demographic homogeneity, as well as the exclusion of leaders from smaller or grassroots nonprofit organizations (NPOs). These limitations suggested directions for future studies, particularly about intersectionality and regional diversity in women’s nonprofit leadership. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

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trisha lee

Trisha W. Lee

ORCID Id:  #0009-0008-3911-7499

Dr. Trisha W. Lee is an educator, nonprofit leader, and leadership scholar with more than 25 years of experience in public education. She earned a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change, a Master of Arts in Leadership and Change, and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Antioch University. Her scholarship explores women in nonprofit leadership, authentic leadership, organizational change, and the leadership journeys of women serving as chief executive officers and executive directors. As the founder of Snuggled Up, Inc., she has combined scholarship with community service by developing programs that support children and families in need. Dr. Lee's work reflects her commitment to ethical leadership, educational excellence, and creating meaningful social change.

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