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 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”

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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