At community colleges, women currently comprise approximately 20% of all chief executive officer (CEO) positions. The single most important source from which new community college CEO candidates are selected, however, is the pool of deans of instruction and since 21% of current deans are women, it is likely that these numbers will rise. Moreover, there is evidence that the way in which college presidents approach leadership is changing from "take charge" approaches often associated with male leaders to approaches emphasizing participatory and shared decision-making. A 1990 study of executives in business and management concluded that female executives tended to be more interested than male executives in transforming people's self-interest into organizational goals by encouraging feelings of individual self-worth, active participation, and the sharing of power and information. As the number of female community college presidents increases, they will be able to influence the culture of the community college in the following ways: (1) encourage the elimination of institutional gender stereotypes; (2) redefine power and the power structure of the institution; (3) enact gender-related policies and procedures; (4) raise collegial consciousness and initiate collegial dialogue on gender and related issues; and (5) take a proactive stance on public policy and debate beyond the local campus. Contains 12 references. (HAA)