The number of women faculty and senior administrators in theological education is growing, although their percentage remains smaller than the percentage of women students. In this targeted area of ATS work, the Association provides educational support for women faculty and administrators and assists schools in their efforts to include more women in leadership positions.

The Women in Leadership in Theological Education program has three principal activities:

Annual Conference: The annual conference focuses on professional development, including attention to distinctive skills needed by women to function effectively in theological schools. It provides a focused educational setting as well as the opportunity to network with others. Participants are selected on the basis of applications from women faculty and administrators in ATS schools, and preference is given to women in mid-level administrative positions, junior-level faculty, and racial/ethnic applicants. Each conference generally has 30 to 40 participants.

Senior Administrator Retreat: ATS hosts an annual retreat for women currently serving as presidents or deans in member schools. These are the most influential roles in ATS schools, and they bring both the greatest opportunity to guide the course of an institution and the greatest amount of stress. The retreats are informal in structure, with limited plenary presentations, and they are designed to provide time for problem-solving, peer support, and encouragement. The retreat usually has 20 to 25 participants.

Conference-based Research: The Association is using the Women in Leadership conferences in a research effort to gain information about institutional practices from participants and, combined with other forms of data gathering, to develop informed perceptions about institutional practices that enhance more gender-inclusive faculties and administrative staffs.