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NEXUS INDEX 2012

Promoting action that

assures all daughters have choices that lead to financial

security and leadership opportunities

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Dr. Duane A Schmidt, Editorial, February 5, 2012, Des Moines Register, Page 20P “You gotta know the territory, Professor Bloom”

Dr. Schmidt’s editorial reminds us of an Iowa legacy of blazing trails, especially those by Iowa women. Accomplishments or “how Iowa women plowed new avenues for women the world over” noted by Dr. Schmidt include: An Iowa woman: …Was the first professor of journalism …Spearheaded the drive for women’s right to vote …Cast the first ballot in the nation …Was the first school superintendent …Founded the Iowa Highway Patrol …Was first to chair the National Republican Party …Was the first to chair the Electoral College …Was the first female lawyer, dentist, notary, and professor of engineering and physical education Iowa women: …Were the first trained to serve in the military …Were the first to go to elementary school, then to college, on an equal basis with men Although these accomplishments provide a rich legacy for Iowa women, they are the rolemodels of Iowa’s past. Who are the rolemodels of the 21st century? What trails still need to be blazed?

Why are Role Models important? Role models are a powerful force for learning and recognizing one’s potential. Role models bring to life positive behaviors that others can emulate. Role models are not only important for one’s career, but also for achieving fulfillment in everything one does throughout her or his life. Role models are important in every stage of life. If we are lucky Role Models guide us from infancy to the end of life. Role models work for the common good of our community and state. Role models provide examples that dreams and ambitions can be fulfilled. Role models reflect gender equality.

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Is Iowa the place where our daughters actualize their dreams and aspirations?

Is Iowa the place where our daughters can be role models for their daughters?

Where are the female role models blazing trails in Iowa today?

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CONTENTS PAGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 NEXUS INDEX RESULTS SUMMARY 7 INDIVIDUAL INDICATORS: Education Indicators Academic performance at the high school level 8 Proficiency of 11th grade students on ITED 9 Academic performance at Iowa’s three Regents universities 10 Enrollment at the University of Iowa School of Law 11 Enrollment at the University of Iowa College of Medicine 12 Leadership in the public school system 12 Peak Earning Potential Indicators Shareholders/Partners in law firms 14 Highest paid employees at Regents universities 14 Highest compensated executives in Iowa’s largest casualty companies 15 Leadership Indicators Membership on corporate boards of Iowa companies 15 Membership of the Iowa Legislature 16 Composition of the Iowa Supreme Court 17 Governors of Iowa 18 Membership of Iowa’s Congressional delegation 19 Women in Small Business Small business ownership in Iowa 19 Reflections of Important Mentors 20 Supplement Societal issues impacting women that need further research and solutions 21

NEXUS Executive Women’s Alliance

The NEXUS Executive Women’s Alliance began in 1978 for the purpose of providing professional, business and personal support among its members. The name NEXUS is symbolic of the ability of the members to connect – spanning their broad scope of occupations, professions and interests. NEXUS members focus their activism on change and betterment for all.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY From the day a little girl is born, some fathers and mothers alike, wonder what the future holds for this wonderful creature they have just brought into the world. A world we believe will champion her every dream no matter who she is, what she wants to become or wherever she wants to go. A world that lets the little girl grow to an accomplished and fulfilled woman she knows she can become. The 2004 NEXUS Index (Index) asked whether this was true. Could our daughters reach for the stars and actually catch one. Could young women become CEOs, be elected to Congress, achieve leadership roles, or become top wage earners? Were all doors truly open to our daughters? The conclusion was that while young women constituted the sizeable majority of high achievers in educational settings, the achievement did not translate into positions of peak earning power and leadership in 2004. That brings us to 2012 – 8 years later and we are asking the same questions. The reality is that no matter what field, the higher you go, the fewer women you find. 2010 Census data show women who are consumers and voters, represent 51% of Iowa’s population. A decade into the 21st century we have failed to bring parity to power and position, politics, corporate boardrooms and our educational system. A White House report titled Jobs and Economic Security for America’s Women reported:

“Women the majority of college graduates and a growing share of the workforce,

are positioned to help drive the 21st century economy that is increasingly reliant on knowledge and innovation. In addition to their role in the paid workforce, women also continue to play a vital role as mothers and primary caregivers to children, and oftentimes, aging parents.” Members of the NEXUS Executive Women’s Alliance continue to observe the disparity between genders and they are not alone. The McKinsey Quarterly: The online Journal of McKinsey and Company (April 2011) How women can contribute more to the US economy, states that “Women are crucial to US economic growth.” They further state that, “…since women’s participation in the workforce took off, in the 1970s their productivity has accounted for about a quarter of current GDP (Gross Domestic Product). But women still aren’t reaching their full economic potential. One important reason is that far too many highly skilled women simply don’t progress up the ladder in corporate America.” They indicate that most companies are working to reduce structural problems such as role models and or access to informal networks. But their survey and interviews uncovered more difficult problems to address: “These include senior executives’ perceptions that certain jobs just shouldn’t be available to women, and a tendency to reward men for their potential but women only for their performance.” The Index identifies and measures sample indicators of gender equality in Iowa. By publicizing the data in the Index, NEXUS hopes to raise awareness and promote discourse. The goal is to affect action that assures young women have choices that lead to financial security and leadership opportunities. It is imperative that we alleviate the struggle for gender equality for all of our daughters.

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Key indicators of the Index chosen are necessarily isolated measurements of select criteria. They are not all-encompassing; they do not include all facets of the issue. They are, however, reflective snapshots of the progress of Iowa girls and women from high school through the most powerful and lucrative positions in commerce, education and public service. By design they are also objective. The Index is comprised of the following indicators: Education

I. Academic performance at the high school level II. Academic performance at Iowa’s three Regents universities

III. Enrollment at the University of Iowa College of Law IV. Enrollment at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine V. Professional roles as teachers, principals and superintendents

VI. Average compensated teachers, principals and superintendents Peak Earning Potential

VII. Shareholder/Partners in Iowa law firms VIII. Highest compensated employees at Regents universities

IX. Highest compensated executives in Iowa’s largest casualty insurance companies Leadership

X. Membership on boards of directors of Iowa companies XI. Membership of the Iowa Legislature

XII. Composition of the Iowa Supreme Court XIII. Governors of Iowa XIV. Membership of Iowa’s Congressional delegation

Small Business

XV. Women in small business In each instance, the indicator reported was chosen or defined so that is can be objectively measured and repeated. Through ongoing measurement of the same indicators over time, progress can be measured. Trends can be observed and conclusions drawn with regard to the struggle for gender equality. Findings The conclusions to be drawn from the Index are inevitably open to debate. The study is not comprehensive; it is not a sociological analysis offering explanatory hypothesis of the phenomena it demonstrates; it was not intended to be either. The Index does, however, provide an interesting glimpse into an undeniable pattern that continues eight years after the first Index was published and that is intuitively recognized by the majority of NEXUS’ membership: While young women continue to constitute the sizeable majority of high achievers in educational settings, that achievement does not translate into positions of peak earning power and leadership.

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The Index continues to generate questions that should be asked, including the following:

• Why do Iowa young women comprise more than 63% of those graduating in the top 3% of their high school classes and 60% of young women graduating with honors from our Regents universities, but constitute only 11% of the highly compensated executives in the state’s largest casualty companies?

• What happens to the pipeline of high achieving young women?

• When 75% of Iowa classroom teachers are female, how do we justify that only 37% of principals

and 14% of superintendents are female?

• Should our schools play a role in building skills or is “learning the rules of the game” taught best through mentoring? Is this possible when leadership roles in our schools do not even exhibit female role models?

• With no correlation between academic achievements and the most lucrative positions in the legal

profession, academia, education, Iowa’s major industry, or elected/appointed public positions of leadership, what further skills do our daughters need?

• Are the index measurements for Iowa schools, professions, corporations, institution or political

positions significantly different from those in other states or the nation as a whole?

• As women are 50.5% of the population in Iowa can we conclude that we are only using half of our potential for great things to happen?

• Who are the advocates for women’s issues such as equal opportunities, equal pay, living wage,

child care, housing, assistance for victims of abuse and access to medical care when there are so few female elected officials?

• How effective is the judicial system for women with little or no representation? Are decisions

based on speculative perceptions of women offenders and non-offenders? Do decisions improve life circumstance for women and prospects for their children?

Where we go from here… Nexus leaves the explanation to others but will continue to monitor the indicators identified for changes and trends in our community and state. The group will publicly report these findings and lead a call to action by working with stakeholders to advance and better prepare the next generation of women leaders in Iowa.

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NEXUS INDEX RESULTS SUMMARY Education Indicators:

I. Academic Performance of Females at the High School Level: 63% in the Top 3% of their Class

II. Academic Performance of Females at Iowa’s Regents Universities: 60% of Honors Graduates

III. Female Enrollment at the University of Iowa College of Law: 46%

IV. Female Enrollment at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine: 48%

V. Professional Roles as Teachers, Principals and Superintendents who are female:

Teachers: 75% Principals: 37% Superintendents: 14% VI. Average Compensation of Female Teachers, Principals, and Superintendents

Teacher: 95% of what male teachers earn Principal: 98% of what male principals earn Superintendent: 107% of what male superintendents earn

Peak Earning Potential Indicators VII. Partners in central Iowa law firms: 24.6%

VIII. 50 Highest Paid Female Employees at Regents Institutions: 10%

IX. Highly Compensated Executives in Iowa’s Largest Casualty Insurance Companies: 11%

Leadership Indicators

X. Membership on Boards of Directors of Iowa Companies who are Female: 16%

XI. Female Membership in the Iowa Legislature 2011: 21%

XII. Justices Serving on the Iowa Supreme Court 2011 who are Female: 0%

XIII. Governors of Iowa: 0%

XIV. Members of Iowa’s Congressional Delegation who are Female: 0%

Women in Small Business

XV. Women in small business: 26%

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Education Indicators

I. Academic Performance at the High School Level: 63% Female In the 2004 females comprised 64% of students graduating within the top 3% of their class in Polk County high schools (data from the Des Moines Register’s Graduation 2004). The 2012 Index results show of the 260 students graduating in the top 3% of their class 63% were female. Thus, no significant change has occurred since 2004.

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The Annual Condition of Education 2010 report, prepared by the Iowa Department of Education shows the percent of 11th grade students by gender, proficient on the Iowa Test of Educational Development (ITED) for reading comprehension, mathematics and science. Female students scored moderately higher in reading comprehension and the difference in math and science scores are negligible. The assumption could be made that male and female students are graduating with very similar math and science skills.

The Annual Condition of Education report.

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II. Academic Performance at Iowa’s Regent’s Universities:

Iowa’s three Regent’s universities provided academic performance by graduating class and gender. The data in 2004 showed that female graduates received 61% of the top honors awarded. The data reflects that female graduates from 2005-2009 received 60% of the top honors.

Data provided by Iowa State University, Registrar

(1) Graduating with Distinction was used until the fall of 2007. Students graduated with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher (2) Beginning in the fall of 2007 students graduated:

Summa Cum Laude… Cumulative grade point average of 3.90 or higher Magna Cum Laude…..Cumulative grade point average of 3.70-3.89 Cum Laude………….. Cumulative grade point average of 3.50-3.69

(3) Spring graduation only

1 High Distinction: 3.5-3.74 Data provided by the Registrar, University of Iowa 2 Highest Distinction: 3.75-4.0

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Graduating with Distinction Data provided by the Registrar, University of Northern Iowa

Prior to 2006 – Summa – 3.75 and above, Magna 3.50 to 3.74, Cum 3.25 to 3.49 Spring 2006 and after, Summa Top 3% of students, Magna Top 4% through 8%, Cum Top 9% through 15% in each college

III. Enrollment at the University of Iowa College of Law

University of Iowa, College of Law, Registrar

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IV. Enrollment at the University of Iowa College of Medicine

University of Iowa, College of Medicine, Registrar

V. Professional Roles as Teachers, Principals and Superintendents

The Public Broadcasting System film, The Principal Story (2009), depicts why leadership is important and what it will take to make students successful. The leadership behaviors that most influence student learning requires balancing student discipline and nurturing. Leadership must exhibit compassion and understanding to the diverse needs of students, while strengthening their weaknesses and building on their successes. In 2010 75% of Iowa’s teachers are female. The high concentration of female teachers does not carry over to the role of principal or superintendent. In 2010, only 37% of principals and 14% of superintendents are female.

Iowa Department of Education and, The Annual Condition of Education reports

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The lack of education and experience is often given as the reason females have not risen to positions of leadership. However, in education, the percent of male and female teachers having advanced degrees, years of experience and years of experience within their district are exactly the same.

Iowa Department of Education and, The Annual Condition of Education reports

VI. Average Compensation of Teachers, Principals and Superintendents by Gender.

Females earn on average 95% of what male teaches earn, 98% of what male principals earn and 107% of what male superintendents earn.

Iowa Department of Education and, The Annual Condition of Education reports

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Peak Earning Potential Indicators VII. Shareholder/Partners in Central Iowa Law Firms: 24.6% Female

The most lucrative rewards in the private practice of law are expected with the achievement of an equity position in the law firm: partnership in those firms that have not incorporated and shareholder or membership status in the others. In order to measure any change in the percentage of women who have achieved that status from the previous Nexus Index compiled in 2004, data from the same 8 law firms was analyzed.

The source data used is the 2012 Martindale Hubbell online legal directory as it existed on April 10 and 11, 2012 for all firms with the exception of Belin McCormick, P.C. for which final statistics were obtained from the firm’s website followed by confirmation through personal interview.

VIII. The 50 Highest Paid Employees at Regents Universities in 2010: 10% Female

Information available online

1. Belin, McCormick, P.C. 2. Bradshaw, Fowler, Proctor & Fairgrave, P.C. 3. Nyemaster, Goode, West, Hansell & O'Brien, P.C. 4. Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. 5. Whitfield & Eddy, P.L.C. 6. Brown, Winick, Graves, Gross, Baskerville and Schoenebaum, P.L.C. 7. Davis, Brown, Koehn, Shors & Roberts, P.C. 8. Hopkins & Huebner, P.C.

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IX. Most Highly Compensated Executives in the 10 Largest Iowa Casualty Insurance

Companies in 2009: 11% Female

2009 Annual Statement – Supplemental Compensation Exhibit AMCO Grinnell Mutual Insurance Co. EMC Property and Casualty Co. GuideOne Mutual Insurance Co. Employers Northfield Insurance Co. Farm Bureau Mutual Professional Solutions Insurance Co. Farmland Mutual Insurance Co. United Fire and Casualty Co.

X. Membership on Boards of Directors for the 11 Largest Iowa Companies: 16% Female

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XI. Membership in the Iowa Legislature 2011: 21% Female State Data Center of Iowa provides public online access to state voting and registration data by gender. In 2008 75% of females in Iowa were registered to vote compared to 70% of males. Those reported as actually voting were 70% of females compared to 64% of males. In Iowa’s representation of women in its state legislature, it ranks 33rd among the 50 states in 2012 with 21.3%. The national average in 2012 is 23.7%.

*Beginning of the 84th General Assembly Iowa General Assembly website

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* Beginning of the 84th General Assembly Iowa General Assembly website

* Beginning of the 84th General Assembly Iowa General Assembly website

XII. Composition of the Iowa Supreme Court 2011: 0% Female Composition of the Iowa Supreme Court 1838 to the present: 2% Female Only 12 out of the 60 applicants for the 2011 appointments to the Iowa Supreme Court were female.

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Iowa Supreme Court website

In 1869 the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that women could practice law and admitted the first woman to practice law in Iowa. In fact, she was the first woman admitted to practice law in any state in the nation. Although she was admitted to practice law she never did. She was a college professor. In the 1990s, the Iowa Supreme Court-Equity in the Courts Commission addressed gender and racial bias by inviting the public to provide their perceptions of bias in the courts. In 1993, after two years of study, the commission recommended reforms to alleviate any bias in Iowa courts. From 1838 to the present, 108 Justices are serving or have served on the Iowa Supreme Court. Only 2 have been female.

XIII. Governors of Iowa: 0% female Iowa is one of 24 states that have not elected a woman governor. Throughout U.S. history, 34 women have served as governor in 26 states.

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XIV. Membership of Iowa’s Congressional Delegation: 0% Female Only four states have not elected a woman to Congress – Delaware, Iowa, Mississippi, and Vermont. Iowa and Mississippi are the only two states that have not elected a woman to Congress or a woman governor.

XV. Women in Small Business Across the U.S., the women-owned (non-farm) business share of total businesses grew from less than 5% in 1979 to 29% in 2007. Yet women-owned businesses represent less than 4% of total business receipts. Iowa's 25% share of women-owned business lags behind the national average and ranks close to the bottom of the 50 states.

A good way to compare large and smaller states is by the number of women-owned businesses per 1,000 population. Again Iowa, at 22.3 women-owned businesses per 1,000 population, lags the U.S. average of 25.8 per 1,000.

While women-owned business issues are similar to those of male-owned businesses, women trail men in entrepreneur activity, revenues and patents.

Source: Developments in Women-owned Business, 1997-2007, Office of Advocacy, U.S. Small Business Administration. Business data source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Survey of Business Owners, 1997, 2002 and 2007.Population data source: Bureau of Economic Analysis

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Reflections of Important Mentors–Who has most influenced your life as a leader and how?

H.E. Mary Kramer, Ambassador, Barbados (retired), President, Kramer and Associates: My dad – he made me believe I could accomplish great things, without limitation. A middle school teacher who demanded more of me than I thought I had, and when I gave her what she demanded, she pushed me further. Several bosses who showed me some good ways to lead and some who provided a model of how I would never behave.

Rose Mitchell, Sr. Vice President, Governmental Affairs, HyVee, Incorporated One of my early mentors was my boss for 17 years. He gave me incredible opportunity and responsibility and helped me achieve more than I thought I could each time an obstacle or opportunity presented itself. I was exposed to so much outside my regular duties. He helped me see beyond what I was doing today in order to prepare for the future. I owe him a lot!

Becky Greenwald, Advocate, Region VII, Office of the Regional Advocate, U.S. Small Business Administration My parents were most influential. I was encouraged to follow through when I started something, not to quit before I finished and was also encouraged to try new things. Maybe being the oldest of three helped me see myself as a leader at an early age.

Sandy Hatfield Clubb, Director of Athletics, Drake Univsersity The combination of my parents influence – my father teaching me that I can do absolutely anything through adventure experiences throughout my life; my mother teaching me that it is my heart that I need to follow and that I should never let anything (material things or people) get in the my way of discovering what that is, that has made me who I am today. Many people have influenced my life as a leader. I have tried to learn and integrate leadership lessons from every boss I have had. Each athletics director that I have worked for has strongly influenced who I am as a leader. Some lessons were how to do things and others were about how not to do things, both of significant value.

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Supplement Women make up 50.5% of the population in Iowa (U.S. Census 2010) Societal issues negatively impacting Iowa women that need further research and solutions: (All maps provided by Mapping Strategies, Des Moines, IA)

• Households headed by an unmarried women with children • Wage gap – Gender difference in median income • Females living on income below the federal poverty level

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NEXUS Index 2012

Promoting action that assures all daughters have choices that lead to financial security

and leadership opportunities