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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Aneika Simmons at ELP 2022
Aneika Simmons shares her thoughts with the 2022 ELP cohort.

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. 

ELP Class of 2022
ELP Class of 2022

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.
Is my institution an AASCU member?

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

“ELP is the most comprehensive leadership program to prepare one for opportunities and advancement in higher education. All sessions felt intentionally curated for our cohort and I ended the program with a confidence to advocate for myself and issues I would have otherwise not found. The scheduling and intensity was perfect for the career level of those in the program and having a peer group and multiple mentors helped keep my campus project alive.”

2022 ELP Cohort Member

“ELP is the most comprehensive leadership program to prepare one for opportunities and advancement in higher education. Sessions felt intentionally curated for our cohort and I ended the program with a confidence to advocate for myself and issues I would have otherwise not found. The intensity was perfect for the career level of our cohort and having a peer group and mentors helped keep my campus project alive.”

2022 ELP Cohort Member

Meet the 2023 Cohort
Jacqueline Bishop

Jacqueline

(Bruscella) Bishop

Associate Professor

State University of New York College at Oneonta

Mehrdad Aliasgari

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

Jerel

Benton

Associate Vice President for Student Success

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Ernest Black

Ernest

Black

Systemwide Director, CalStateTEACH

California State University

Maneka Deanna Brooks

Maneka Deanna

Brooks

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Educator Preparation, College of Education

Texas State University

Matthew Cooney

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

Evin

Deschamps

Assistant Director, Supplemental Instruction

Montclair State University (NJ)

Dorothy Frink

Dorothy

Frink

Interim Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs

Indiana University Northwest

Amy Garrigan

Amy K.

Garrigan

Community Engagement Manager

University of Wisconsin-Parkside

Kiran

George

Vice-Chair and Professor

California State University Fullerton

David Herman

David

Herman

Senior Facilities Director, Physical Plant Management

Colorado State University-Pueblo

Justin James

Justin M.

James

Development Officer; Presidential Leadership Fellow

Pennsylvania Western University

Danvy Le

Danvy

Le

Associate Professor

California State University, East Bay

Kristy Mardis

Kristy L

Mardis

Chair Department of Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering Studies

Chicago State University (IL)

Robin Ebert Mays

Robin Ebert

Mays

Associate Professor of English, Career Track; Chair of Resident Faculty Organization

Washington State University Tri-Cities

Anneke McEvoy

Anneke

McEvoy

Associate Director Triandiflou Institute for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Transformative Practice

State University of New York at Oswego

Kevin Meaney

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 Moultry

Aisha Morris

Moultry

Interim Dean of the College of Transdisciplinary Studies and Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Administration

Texas Southern University

Sharon Obasi

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

Jodie

Parys

Professor of Spanish and Director of Community-based Learning

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Kennybel Pena

Kennybel

Peña

Director of Student Support, Advisement and Scholarship

City University of New York, York College

Shelitha Peppers

Shelitha

Peppers

Assistant Dean

Harris-Stowe State University (MO)

Mark Joseph Ramirez

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 Robinson

Shani N.

Robinson

Associate Dean – College of Business Administration

Sam Houston State University (TX)

Jessie Thoman

Jessie

Thoman

Professor of Music

University of Tennessee at Martin

Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs

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

Our Thought Partners

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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