New Presidents Academy
Join state university peers to prepare for the specific challenges first-time presidents and chancellors are likely to face.
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The leadership program for new state college and university presidents and chancellors.
NPA is tailored to the distinctive needs of new presidents and chancellors who lead state colleges and universities.
Who Should Participate
- The 2023 academy is open to first-time AASCU member and non-member presidents and chancellors appointed after July 2022. Exceptions may be made for presidents who began prior to July 2022 if space permits.
How You’ll Benefit
- Comprehensive preparation in the areas of most critical concern to presidents
- Build a strong and supportive network of new and seasoned presidents
- Acquire core knowledge and learn strategies that will help you succeed as a new president or chancellor
- Strengthen your leadership skills
- Assess and reflect on your leadership strengths and define areas for growth
- Engage in a mentoring partnership with an experienced president.
- Connect with a diverse faculty of experienced presidents, chancellors, and experts in advancement, communications, governance, and financial management
What to Expect
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion discussions will be integrated throughout the program
- Dialogues about AASCU institutions’ commitment to access and student success outcomes will be included throughout
- We are committed to creating a supportive, engaging, and customized learning environment built on trust, confidentiality, and safety among the cohort
- Program content is reevaluated each year to ensure we are meeting the needs of current presidents and chancellors and covering topics critical to the current context of higher education leadership
- Support new presidents with a practical orientation to the presidency.
- Create a community of support for new presidents to include peers and experienced (current and retired) presidents. The NPA network is an invaluable resource for presidents throughout their careers
- Explore the president’s multiple roles
- Assess current state of university including the effectiveness of the senior team
- Role of the president
- Crisis management
- Equity-minded, student-centered leadership
- Fundraising
- Strategic planning
- Advocacy, government relations and advancement
- Building and engaging your leadership team
- Financial management
The 2023 NPA will take place from July to December 2023.
The program will feature:
- Four-day, in-person gathering (July 25-29, 2023 at the Omni La Costa in Carlsbad, California)
- Monthly two-hour, interactive cohort gatherings held over four months (August, September, October, November)
- Half-day in-person gathering (November 5, 2023 at the Fairmont Chicago, Illinois)
- Optional small group reflection and discussion sessions regarding each participant’s leadership challenge
- Asynchronous learning modules (pre-reads)
- Formal mentoring with NPA faculty and current and retired AASCU presidents and chancellors
- Access to AASCU (phone a friend) resource list of AASCU presidents and chancellors
The in-person gathering for the 2024 NPA will be July 24-27, 2024, at the Omni La Costa in Carlsbad, CA.
- The 2023 academy is open to first-time AASCU member and non-member presidents and chancellors appointed after July 2022.
- Exceptions may be made for presidents who began prior to July 2022 if space permits.
- All eligible members will be admitted as space allows.
- Nonmembers who are eligible will be allowed to register if space is available.
No formal application is required.
2023 Registration opens in April.
2023 Registration Fees
- Presidents/Chancellors from AASCU member institutions: $4,500
- Presidents/Chancellors from non-member institutions: $5,500
- The registration fee covers the virtual program, materials, and meals for 4.5days, in-person gathering.
Scholarships
- Limited scholarships are available to accepted applicants from AASCU member institutions.
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation requests received on or after June 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 NPA or receive a credit toward a different program.
Meet the 2023 NPA faculty.
NPA has convened an impressive faculty of current and former presidents, chancellors, cabinet-level administrators, and national subject matter experts.
Testimonials
Meet the 2022 Cohort

Ericke S.
Cage
President
West Virginia State University

Bret
Danilowicz
President
Radford University (VA)

Wendell
Godwin
President
East Central University (OK)

Janet
Gooch
Chancellor
University of Illinois Springfield

Bo
Hannaford
President
Northwestern Oklahoma State University

Adreain
Henry
President
Mercy College of Health Sciences (IA)

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

John L.
Hoffman
President
Bemidji State University (MN)

Sheila Edwards
Lange
Chancellor
University of Washington Tacoma

Ming-Tung “Mike”
Lee
Interim President
Sonoma State University (CA)

Carolyn Ringer
Lepre
President
Salisbury University (MD)

Michelle
Malott
Interim Chancellor
Indiana University East

Steven
Mauro
President
“State University of New York, Alfred State College of Technology”

Shari G.
McMahan
President
Eastern Washington University

James T.
Minor
Chancellor
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Nancy S.
Niemi
President
Framingham State University (MA)

Milagros “Milly”
Peña
President
Purchase College, State University of New York

Stephen
Perez
Interim President
San José State University (CA)

Vanya
Quiñones
President
California State University Monterey Bay

Stacey
Robertson
President
Widener University (PA)

Kelly A.
Ryan
Interim Chancellor
Indiana University Southeast

David
Schecter
President
East Georgia State College

Todd
Shields
Chancellor
Arkansas State University Jonesboro

Aswani
Volety
Chancellor
University of North Carolina Wilmington

Lisa
Vollendorf
President
“State University of New York, Empire State College”

Darrell P.
Wheeler
President
State University of New York at New Paltz

Daniel K.
Wims
President
Alabama A&M University

Richard
Yao
President
California State University Channel Islands
Application Details
The 2023 academy is open to first-time AASCU member and non-member presidents and chancellors appointed after July 2022. Exceptions may be made for presidents who began prior to July 2022 if space permits. All eligible members will be admitted as space allows. Nonmembers who are eligible will be allowed to register if space is available.
Application Requirements
- No application required
Important Dates
- Registration for 2023 NPA will open in Spring 2023.
Sign up to be notified about 2024 registration.
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