While the percentage of women and minorities in leadership positions is growing, the numbers are still not representative of the population at large. The 49 community colleges in Illinois enroll 62% of the state's minority college students. Five of these colleges (10%) have minority presidents, all of whom are African American. There are no Hispanic community college presidents in Illinois, although in Chicago, 20% of the total population and 27% of the community college student population are Hispanic. There are only four Hispanic deans, none of whom are deans of instruction. This is due in part to the low number of qualified candidates. However, very few of those who qualify for top-level positions are ever offered such positions. Two colleges in Illinois serve as examples of institutions whose leaders were determined to fill top administrative positions with individuals who would best meet the future needs of their diverse student populations. The president of Harry S. Truman College, located in the multi-ethnic, multi-racial Uptown Chicago, hired an African American, a Native American, and a Hispanic to fill three of seven top administrative positions. Women and minorities also hold a significant number of lower-level administrative positions at Truman College. Parkland Community College, which is located in a culturally and racially diverse, but predominantly white community, made a special effort to recruit women and minority candidates for the college presidency. The board hired a black woman as president based on her superior qualifications. Overcoming the prejudices and biases that may serve as barriers to hiring qualified minorities requires dominant groups to understand that cultural and gender differences indeed produce new and different leadership styles, but that these styles are valid and much needed. (PAA)