Practical tips for new presidential assistants.

Of some fifty people at a two-hour workshop for new presidential assistants in February 2003, all but six were women. Women don't monopolize PA positions--in fact, it's about 50-50--but they may be more open to help.

PAs Donna Heinzman of Eastern Oregon University, Lee Hoemann of Evergreen State College and Franklin Chambers of Howard University led the session at the annual meeting of the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education (NAPAHE).

Job expectations for an assistant to the president are about as well-defined as those for a wife. They range from a notch above executive secretary to a notch below the president. Each assistant and president reshape the job together.

Networking with male PAs showed Heinzman how gender affects unwritten expectations. She's since worked to enlarge her role. "We think we're challenged until we meet someone in a similar position whose responsibilities are much more challenging," she told WIHE.

Some PAs move up from support positions; others are faculty taking a break from teaching to test the administrative waters. Many come from other staff jobs like assistant program director.

As a PA you may be gatekeeper, speechwriter, letter writer, calendar coordinator, office manager and advisor to the president as well as secretary to the board. You're a generalist, not on your way up any standard career ladder. If you want to stay in administration without being a PA for the rest of your life, ask the president for some line responsibilities.

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