Emerging Leaders Program
ELP is designed for emerging academic and administrative leaders to gain a greater appreciation of the Academy and build the skillset and mindset to lead campus initiatives and advance to more senior leadership roles. Participants graduate with skills, connections, and support necessary to navigate the transition to administrative roles.
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ELP is designed to prepare the next generation of higher education administrators to be effective leaders; to view every decision through a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens; and to further their institutions’ path to equitable student success.
ELP provides the opportunity for participants to assess their individual leadership style and strengths and to apply the skills learned in the instructional portion of the program to a project/initiative on their home campus over the course of the academic year.

Who Should Participate
- Mid-career academic and administrative emerging leaders who are exploring opportunities to advance to higher-level administrative positions.
How You’ll Benefit
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the various aspects of the academe and how they relate to each other.
- Develop critical skills for managing complex projects and leading institutional change.
- Build a strong and supportive network of peers and mentors.
- Demonstrate leadership skills by leading an on-campus project or initiative.
What to Expect
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion discussions integrated throughout
- Tailored to the distinctive needs of mid-career academic or administrative professionals exploring leadership roles at state colleges and universities
- Opportunity for real-time application and impact of tools and trainings via a campus project
- Strong relational component—commitment to create and support trust, encourage peer-to-peer learning, confidentiality, and safety among the cohort
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the various aspects of the academe and how they relate to each other.
- Develop critical skills for leading transformational institutional change.
- Build a strong and supportive network of peers and mentors.
- Demonstrate leadership skills by leading an on-campus project or initiative.
- Academic affairs
- Budgeting, finance and administration
- Enrollment Management and Student Affairs
- Fundraising and alumni relations
- Managing staff and faculty
- Navigating the search process
- National trends in higher education
- Project management and change management
- The role of government relations and advocacy
- Title IX and campus accountability
Participants will lead a project or initiative at their home campuses over the course of the academic year, under the guidance of a designated mentor. The project will have an impact on the campus community and also align with the participant’s professional goals. Examples of university projects include the following:
- Chairing or co-chairing a division, university-wide committee, or task force that requires working with multiple constituencies
- Managing a project for a division or university strategic initiative
- Conducting a research project that investigates an important challenge the university faces and provides an opportunity for the participant to influence campus decision-makers using data
- Up to 12 interactive 60-to 120-minute interactive virtual sessions (May and August 2023–December 2023)
- An intensive in-person program at AASCU’s Washington, D.C. office (June 20–22, 2023)
- In-person programming will not be livestreamed or otherwise recorded. One-hundred percent attendance and participation is expected.
- Applications that are complete, including a nomination/endorsement from a president/chancellor or cabinet-level administrator, and submitted by the deadline will be considered.
- ELP faculty review applications and select a cohort that reflects the diversity of AASCU institutions.
- Preference is given to applicants from AASCU member institutions.
- A complete application for ELP includes the following:
- Nomination or endorsement from the president/chancellor or cabinet-level administrator from your home institution
- Clear and concise summary of your personal and professional development goals
- Description of your campus project and how it supports your professional goals
- Commitment to 100% participation
2023 Registration Fees
- Participants from AASCU member institutions: $2,000
- Participants from non-member institutions: $3,000
- The registration fee covers program administration, meals during the in-person intensive, and all materials. Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation in Washington, D.C.
- Upon acceptance to ELP, participants must register no later than April 28, 2023.
Scholarships
- Limited scholarships are available to accepted applicants from AASCU member institutions.
Cancellation Fees
- Cancellation requests received on or after May 1, 2023 are NOT eligible for a refund.
- If you need to cancel after May 1, please email leadershipdevelopment@aascu.org to explore if you are eligible for a deferral to a different iteration of ELP or receive a credit toward a different program.
Meet the 2023 ELP faculty.
ELP has convened an impressive faculty of current and former presidents, chancellors, cabinet-level administrators, and national subject matter experts.

Patti
Neuhold-Ravikumar
Former President
University of Central Oklahoma

Charles L.
Welch
President
Arkansas State University System

Alisa
White
President
Sam Houston State University (TX)

Mildred
García
President
AASCU

Terry
Brown
Vice President of Academic Innovation and Transformation
AASCU

Luis
Maldonado
Vice President, Government Relations and Policy Analysis
AASCU

Kathleen
Scott
Vice President of Leadership Development and Partnerships
AASCU

John Silvanus
Wilson Jr.
Executive Director, Millennium Leadership Initiative
AASCU
ELP connects, equips, and empowers the next generation of higher education leaders.
ELP has a high impact on the skillsets and mindsets of program participants and the curriculum effectively addresses top-of-mind issues for today’s emerging leaders at AASCU institutions.
The Numbers
47%
Percentage of 2022 cohort members who reported feeling more connected to colleagues at the end of ELP.
4.6 out of 5
Average rating of content, presentation and speaker quality for all 2022 ELP programming.
25%
Increase in feeling equipped with the knowledge and relationships needed to pursue career goals from the start to the end of the program (2022 cohort).
The Stories
Meet the 2022 Cohort

Catherine
Adams
Interim Dean of Academic Planning and Advising
State University of New York at Geneseo

Kara C.
Adams
Director of Community Engagement & Connected Learning Initiatives
University of Washington Bothell

T. Itunu
Balogun
Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the President
Kean University (NJ)

Elizabeth
Bowden
Career Consultant, Career Development Center
Athens State University (AL)

Kendra N.
Cadogan
Interim Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
State University of New York at Oswego

Damian C.
Capritta
Director of Field Operations
Colorado State University-Pueblo

Andrew M.
Carnes
Associate Professor and Director, School of Economics, Management, and Project Management
Western Carolina University (NC)

Theresa
Castor
Professor of Communication; Faculty Director of Internships
University of Wisconsin-Parkside

Cathi
Draper Rodriguez
Chair, Department of Education and Leadership; Professor, School Psychology Program
“California State University, East Bay”,California State University Monterey Bay

Mirari
Elcoro
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology and Philosophy; Coordinator, Faculty of Color Mentoring Program
Framingham State University (MA)

Fred J.
Figliano
Associate Dean, College of Education
Troy University (AL)

Shaunda
French-Collins
Interim Dean, School of Business, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences and Graduate Studies; Chair, Department of Communication, Music, Art, and Theatre
Chadron State College (NE)

Esther
Garza
President’s Faculty Fellow on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Associate Professor, Bilingual Education
Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Julie S.
Glass
Professor and Chair, Department of Mathematics
“California State University, East Bay”

Adriana
Gordillo
Professor and Chair, Department of World Languages and Cultures
“Minnesota State University, Mankato”

Trina L.
Gregory
Distance Education Student Support Services Coordinator/State Authorization Compliance Officer
Elizabeth City State University (NC)

Kathrine
Gutierrez
Associate Professor and Chair of the Division of Advanced Education & Research Services, School of Education
University of Guam

Brittany
Helmbrecht
Associate Professor of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation
Chadron State College (NE)

Dalia R.
Hernandez
Director, Upward Bound Program, Office of Pre-College Programs
“California State University, East Bay”,”California State University, San Bernardino”

Susana
Hernández
Associate Professor, Higher Education Administration and Leadership; Chair, Department of Educational Leadership
“California State University, East Bay”,”California State University, Fresno”

Mehruz
Kamal
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Computing Sciences
State University of New York at Brockport

Lolita L.
Kincade
Associate Professor and Chair, Human Development and Family Relations
State University of New York College at Plattsburgh

Deanna J.
Leone
Associate Dean, College of Communications
California State University Fullerton

Kelly Ferris
Lester
Associate Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning; Director, Center for Faculty Development
University of Southern Mississippi

Katynka Z.
Martínez
Professor and Chair, Department of Latina/Latino Studies
San Francisco State University (CA)

Tatiana
Melendez-Rhodes
Associate Professor; Marriage and Family Therapy Program Coordinator
Central Connecticut State University

Kristine W.
Morris
Interim Assistant Dean, College of Nursing
Texas Woman’s University

Amy J.
Nielsen
Professor, Department of Special Education
University of Northern Iowa

Jennifer Teramoto
Pedrotti
Associate Dean for Diversity and Curriculum, College of Liberal Arts
“California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo”

Aneika
Simmons
Interim Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Success
Sam Houston State University (TX)

James F.
Trotter Jr.
Assistant Director Academic Technologies and Innovation
“California State University, San Bernardino”

Gabriel
Warren
Dean of Business, Human Services and Industry
Century College (MN)

Nicole
Webb
Associate Dean, College of Health, Science, and Technology
University of Central Missouri

Megan R.
Wise de Valdez
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Biology, Department of Life Sciences
Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Grace J.
Yoo
Professor, Asian American Studies Department; Director, Race, Empowerment and Justice Projects
San Francisco State University (CA)

Ruijun
Zhao
Professor and Chair, Department of Mathematics and Statistics
“Minnesota State University, Mankato”
Application Details
The application period for ELP is now closed. Applications for 2024 will open in fall 2023. For reference, a full submission requires the candidate to submit a form, including a short description of your campus project, along with a nomination/endorsement from a president/chancellor or cabinet-level administrator.
Application Requirements
- Early- to mid-career academic and administrative emerging leaders who are exploring opportunities to advance to mid-level administrative positions
- Brief description of the campus project/initiative you will lead under the guidance of a designated mentor
- Endorsement from a president/chancellor or cabinet-level administrator from your home institution
Important Dates
- The 2024 program will take place from June 2024 to December 2024.
- Applications for 2024 will open in Fall 2023.
Sign up to be notified for 2024 applications.
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