The purpose of this study was to examine whether middle-level female administrators in the California Community College System were being mentored to higher-level positions, and whether the retention of leaders in higher-level positions was influenced by mentoring. Specifically, this research study examined the mobility and retention of female administrators through a web-based survey that was completed by 156 females currently working in administrative positions at the dean's level or higher in California Community Colleges. Data was also collected through face-to-face interviews with eleven female administrators in senior-level positions from vice president to chancellor. These interviews reflected a range of demographics and were located in Northern, Central, and Southern California. The research study addressed two research questions: (1) What effect did mentoring, if any, have on a person's ability to achieve higher-level leadership positions? and (2) What relationship does mentorship have on the retention of women in leadership? The study utilized a mixed-methods design employing both quantitative and qualitative methods. The Univariate Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Cross Tabulation, Frequency Distribution, Measures of Central Frequency, Independent t-tests, and Correlations were used to identify statistical significance between those who had served as a mentor and those who had not, and between those who had been a mentee and those who had not. Findings reported that mentoring had a positive and significant influence on female administrators and leaders in the California Community College System. There were also important common themes that emerged that indicated the research study was also influenced by family dynamics, mobility and retention strategies, interim positions, the influence of mentors, faith, the timeline for having mentors, gender and racial issues, and participants' own willingness to mentor others. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]