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.

Andy
Brantley
President and CEO
College and University Professional Association for Human Resources

Terry
Brown
Vice President of Academic Innovation and Transformation
AASCU

Marion R.
Fedrick
President
Albany State University

Mildred
García
President
AASCU

Shawn
Hartman
Chief Operating Officer
Academic Search

J. Carlos
Hernandez
President
Sul Ross State University (TX)

Lynn
Mahoney
President
San Francisco State University (CA)

Mel C.
Netzhammer
Chancellor
Washington State University Vancouver

Patti
Neuhold-Ravikumar
Former President
University of Central Oklahoma

Kathleen
Scott
Vice President of Leadership Development and Partnerships
AASCU

Ed
Venit
Managing Director
EAB

Aswani
Volety
Chancellor
University of North Carolina Wilmington

Charles L.
Welch
President
Arkansas State University System

Lynnette
Zelezny
President
California State University, Bakersfield
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 2023 Cohort

Jacqueline
(Bruscella) Bishop
Associate Professor
State University of New York College at Oneonta

Mehrdad
Aliasgari
Department Chair, Computer Engineering and Computer Science
California State University, Long Beach

Sophie T.
Ano
Department Chair and Associate Professor
Fort Hays State University (KS)

Irán
Barrera
Professor & Chair- Fresno State Department of Social Work Education
California State University, Fresno

Jerel
Benton
Associate Vice President for Student Success
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Ernest
Black
Systemwide Director, CalStateTEACH
California State University

Maneka Deanna
Brooks
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Educator Preparation, College of Education
Texas State University

Matthew
Cooney
Associate Professor of Education; Director of the Interdisciplinary Leadership Doctoral Program
Governors State University (IL)

Amber
Darting
Interim Associate Dean for Academic Success
Central Washington University

Evin
Deschamps
Assistant Director, Supplemental Instruction
Montclair State University (NJ)

Dorothy
Frink
Interim Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs
Indiana University Northwest

Amy K.
Garrigan
Community Engagement Manager
University of Wisconsin-Parkside

Kiran
George
Vice-Chair and Professor
California State University Fullerton

David
Herman
Senior Facilities Director, Physical Plant Management
Colorado State University-Pueblo

Justin M.
James
Development Officer; Presidential Leadership Fellow
Pennsylvania Western University

Danvy
Le
Associate Professor
California State University, East Bay

Kristy L
Mardis
Chair Department of Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering Studies
Chicago State University (IL)

Robin Ebert
Mays
Associate Professor of English, Career Track; Chair of Resident Faculty Organization
Washington State University Tri-Cities

Anneke
McEvoy
Associate Director Triandiflou Institute for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Transformative Practice
State University of New York at Oswego

Kevin
Meaney
Executive Director of Housing and Residence Life
University of North Carolina Wilmington

Carlitta M.
Moore
Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – College of Nursing and Health Professions; Clinical Education Coordinator/Assistant Professor – Master of Athletic Training Program
Arkansas State University Jonesboro

Aisha Morris
Moultry
Interim Dean of the College of Transdisciplinary Studies and Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Administration
Texas Southern University

Sharon N.
Obasi
Associate Professor & Director of Research Integrity
University of Nebraska Kearney

Gabriela
Olivares-Cuhat
Associate Dean of Research and Innovation
University of Northern Iowa

Jodie
Parys
Professor of Spanish and Director of Community-based Learning
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Kennybel
Peña
Director of Student Support, Advisement and Scholarship
City University of New York, York College

Shelitha
Peppers
Assistant Dean
Harris-Stowe State University (MO)

Mark Joseph
Ramirez
Associate Dean for Research and Outreach
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Neisha D.
Rhodes
Director of Presidential Initiatives
California State University, Stanislaus

Shani N.
Robinson
Associate Dean – College of Business Administration
Sam Houston State University (TX)

Jessie
Thoman
Professor of Music
University of Tennessee at Martin

Kjersti
VanSlyke-Briggs
Professor
State University of New York College at Oneonta

Ben
Weikert
Department Chair
State University of New York Cobleskill

Erin
White
Associate Dean – College of Health, Science and Technology
Fayetteville State University (NC)

Patricia A.
Young
Chairperson & Professor
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Recent Program News
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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