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Leadership Development Program Endorsement Form
Endorse candidates for the Becoming a Provost Academy, Emerging Leaders Program, Executive Leadership Academy, and Millennium Leadership Initiative.
The deadline for applications and endorsements is February 9, 2026.
Candidates will be informed of their acceptance status by March 31.
You may endorse more than one candidate; please submit a new form for each person.
Please only submit endorsement(s) for applicants from your own institution. Please note the following endorsement requirements in order for a candidate’s submission to be considered complete. Endorsements must be submitted as follows:
- BAPA: Endorsement from the president/chancellor or provost
- ELP: Endorsement from the president/chancellor or cabinet-level administrator
- ELA: Endorsement from the president/chancellor
- MLI: Endorsement from the president/chancellor
After you complete this form, both you and the candidate will receive confirmation that the endorsement was submitted. The candidate will receive a confirmation email once their submission is complete (this may take 2-3 business days after submitting application and endorsement).
Due to volume, AASCU is unable to accept application and endorsement materials outside of this form.
Please contact leadershipdevelopment@aascu.org with questions.
Leadership Development Program Application
Apply to the Becoming a Provost Academy, Emerging Leaders Program, Executive Leadership Academy, and Millennium Leadership Initiative.
The deadline for applications and endorsements is February 9, 2026.
A full submission requires candidates to complete this form, and an endorser to endorse your candidacy (via a separate form) by February 9, 2026. You will receive a confirmation email once your submission is complete (this may take 2-3 business days after submitting application and endorsement).
Please note that you must complete this form in one sitting. Some fields are conditional; select the program for which you are applying to view all required application questions. You may wish to prepare your responses in a word document and then paste them into the appropriate fields.
Due to volume, AASCU is unable to accept application and endorsement materials outside of this form.
Please contact leadershipdevelopment@aascu.org with questions.
Department Chair Leadership Institute Application Confirmation
Thank you for applying to the
Department Chair Leadership Institute.
You will receive an email confirmation shortly. Please contact leadershipdevelopment@aascu.org with questions.
Department Chair Leadership Institute Endorsement Confirmation
Thank you for endorsing a candidate for
the Department Chair Leadership Institute.
You will receive an email confirmation shortly. Please contact leadershipdevelopment@aascu.org with questions.
Department Chair Leadership Institute Endorsement
2026 endorsements are closed.
Department Chair Leadership Institute Application
2026 applications and endorsements are closed.
application requirements
- Nomination or endorsement from a dean, provost, president or chancellor from your home institution (nominations from higher-level administrators do not carry more weight.)
- Clear and concise summary of your personal and professional development goals.
- Demonstrated interest in subsequent leadership positions.
- Commitment to 100% participation.
Department Chair Leadership Institute
DCLI is designed to develop critical skills for leading your department as an institutional citizen.
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Develop leadership skills needed to lead change during turbulent times.
The Department Chair Leadership Institute is designed for current department chairs who serve at state colleges and universities and aspire to be dynamic, strategic, and empathetic leaders. Participants gain a national perspective on the importance of the department chair in serving the institutional mission, delivering value and ensuring student success.
Who Should Participate
- Current or newly appointed department chairs who are committed to strengthening their leadership skills.
How You’ll Benefit
- Develop critical skills for leading your department as an institutional citizen.
- Build a strong and supportive network of colleagues and mentors.
What to Expect
- Discussions of the evolving leadership competencies needed to lead in today’s complex and turbulent times.
- Tailored to the distinctive needs of department chairs serving at state colleges and universities.
- Strong relational component—commitment to create and support trust, encourage peer-to-peer learning, confidentiality, and safety among the cohort.
- Develop critical skills for leading as an institutional citizen.
- Equip department chairs with tools to overcome common challenges.
- Prepare department chairs with tools and skills to succeed in their chair role as well as for future roles in university administration.
To meet the high demand among AASCU members for this program, the Department Chair Leadership Institute will be offered twice in 2026. The program will be the same for both the January and September cohorts and will be led by a faculty of experienced Department Chairs and University Administrators from AASCU institutions.
- Cohort One
- An intensive in-person program at AASCU’s Washington, D.C. office on January 7 and 8, 2026.
- In-person programming will not be livestreamed or otherwise recorded. One-hundred percent attendance and participation is expected.
- Up to three 90-minute virtual sessions throughout the spring semester.
- Cohort Two
- An intensive in-person program at AASCU’s Washington, D.C. office on September 9 and 10, 2026.
- In-person programming will not be livestreamed or otherwise recorded. One-hundred percent attendance and participation is expected.
- Up to three 90-minute virtual sessions throughout the fall semester.
Special thanks to Zulma Toro and Central Connecticut State University for piloting the department chair curriculum.
- Leading your department in alignment with your institution’s mission and strategic plan
- Growing and sustaining a future-focused department
- Navigating difficult conversations
- Maintaining relevance in the face of changes in higher education
- Resource management
- Principles of supervision
- Wellness for leaders
- Applications that are complete, including a nomination/endorsement from a dean, provost, president or chancellor, and submitted by the deadline will be considered.
- The Department Chair Institute faculty will review applications and select a cohort that reflects the AASCU membership.
- Preference is given to applicants from AASCU member institutions.
- A maximum of 40 participants will be selected for each cohort (a total of 80 chairs will be selected).
- AASCU expects to fill the January and September cohorts from applications submitted during this one application period.
The application period for Cohorts One and Two for this program will open in late August 2025. A complete application for the Department Chair Leadership Institute includes the following:
- Applications and endorsements are due by Oct. 14, 2025.
- Nomination or endorsement from a dean, provost, president or chancellor from your home institution. (Nominations from higher-level administrators do not carry more weight.)
- Clear and concise summary of your personal and professional development goals.
- Demonstrated interest in subsequent leadership positions.
- Commitment to 100% participation.
Preference is given to applicants from AASCU member institutions.
- $1,700 members
- $2,700 non-members (AASCU members receive preference)
Program impact
77% pt. increase
19% of January 2024 cohort members reported feeling connected before the program vs. 96% who felt connected at the end of day 2.
4.38/5
Average rating of content, presentation, and speaker quality for the January program.
The DCLI was one of the most fruitful professional development programs I have ever participated in. I had the opportunity to connect with some of the most inspiring department chairs from across the country. The challenges and triumphs we shared were incredibly motivating and inspiring as I continued on my path to becoming a better leader each day. The insights shared by all the speakers were incredibly helpful as we continued to navigate both the challenges and opportunities of leadership.
This was an excellent experience. I will take many lessons and implement them into my role as a chair. I feel I have also made some new connections that I will communicate with along this journey. Thank you!
All sessions were engaging and interactive. Every one was facilitated by a teacher to promote engagement and learning.
Meet the Department Chair Leadership Institute faculty
Rondall E.
Allen
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Richard
Helldobler
President
William Paterson University (NJ)
Yvonne
Hernandez Friedman
Vice President for Student Affairs
Coastal Carolina University (SC)
Lisa
Hunter
Associate Vice President for Academic Innovation and Transformation
AASCU
Renea P.
Morris
Interim Chief of Strategic Marketing
Excelsior University
Teresa Valerio
Parrot
Principal
TVP Communications
Frequently Asked Questions
AASCU member institutions may nominate more than one Department Chair. In order to best serve as many of our member institutions as possible, AASCU may cap the number of participants from the same institution at two per cohort.
Aspiring leaders are encouraged to apply for the Department Chair Leadership Institute and for 2026 Leadership Development Programming. Program timing and curriculum is designed uniquely for different audiences.
AASCU Consulting offers a 1.5-day department chair institute onsite at your institution, with additional opportunities for virtual workshops during the academic year. The institution-specific onsite academy program aligns with the AASCU Department Chair Leadership Institute or can be further tailored to address specific topics at your institution. Contact Matt Ceppi to learn more.
2025 Cohort #2
Heejung
An
Professor and Department Chair, Department of Educational Leadership and Professional Studies
William Paterson University (NJ)
César
Barros A.
Associate Professor/Director, Latin American, Caribbean and Latinx Studies Program
State University of New York at New Paltz
Craig
Boylstein
Department Chair of Sociology and Criminal Justice; Associate Professor, Sociology
Coastal Carolina University (SC)
Jennifer
Chandler
Associate Professor and Chair of Biology
West Chester University (PA)
Ruth
Childs
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Theatre and Music Studies
State University of New York at Brockport
Kathleen
Colantonio-Yurko
Associate Professor/Chair Human Development and Education
State University of New York at Brockport
Kristin
Conley
Department Chair and Professor, Interdisciplinary Studies Department
Ferris State University (MI)
Daphne M.
Cooper
Interim Department Chair, History and Political Science
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Shelly
Daily
Department Head of Nursing
Arkansas Tech University
Danielle
DeFauw
Department of Education Chair and Professor of Reading & Language Arts
University of Michigan – Dearborn
Gholamreza
Dehnavi
Department Chair and Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Megan
Edwards Collins
Program Chair, Occupational Therapy Department
Winston-Salem State University (NC)
Michael
Figuccio
Associate Professor and Chair, Psychology
State University of New York at Farmingdale
Michael
Fraina
Associate Professor/Chairperson, Department of Sport Management
State University of New York at Farmingdale
Liang
Fu
Chair, Department of Accounting and Finance
Oakland University (MI)
Sharon C.
Furtak
Professor and Chair, Psychology
California State University Sacramento
Giordana
Grossi
Professor and Chair, Psychology Department
State University of New York at New Paltz
Heather N.
Hagan
Department Chair and Professor of Teacher Education
Coastal Carolina University (SC)
Kathleen
Kelley
Chair, Department of Theatre and Dance
Montclair State University (NJ)
Jamie K.
Lau
Chair, Biology
Radford University (VA)
Will
LeSuer
Chair of Department of Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Ometha O
Lewis-Jack
Chair, Department of Psychology
Bowie State University (MD)
Venugopal
Mendu
Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness and Environmental Sciences
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Saad
Merayyan
Professor and Chair, Department of Civil Engineering
California State University Sacramento
Radiah C.
Minor
Professor and Chair, Department of Animal Sciences
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Patricia
Morreale
Chair, Department of Computer Science and Technology
Kean University (NJ)
John
Obielodan
Chair, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Department
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Deborah
Romero
Director, School of Teacher Education
University of Northern Colorado
Aparna
Sreenivasan
Professor and Chair, Department of Biology and Chemistry
California State University Monterey Bay
George N.
Ude
Chairperson, Department of Natural Sciences
Bowie State University (MD)
Patricia
Valverde
Associate Professor, MPH Campus Director of Colorado School of Public Health
University of Northern Colorado
Kimber
Wickersham
Department Head, Social Work
Jacksonville State University (AL)
Jesse
Willis
Professor of Music and Chair, Department of Music
Coastal Carolina University (SC)
Jung Ah (Claire)
Yun
Associate Professor/Associate Chair, Public Affairs and Criminal Justice
Kean University (NJ)
DCLI Partner
Applications for 2026 are closed.
Application Details
Application Requirements
- Nomination or endorsement from a dean, provost, president or chancellor from your home institution (nominations from higher-level administrators do not carry more weight.)
- Clear and concise summary of your personal and professional development goals.
- Demonstrated interest in subsequent leadership positions.
- Commitment to 100% participation.
Important Dates
- Applications and endorsements are due by Oct. 14, 2025
- Cohort One
- An intensive in-person program at AASCU’s Washington, D.C. office on Jan. 7 and 8, 2026.
- Three 90-minute virtual sessions throughout the spring semester.
- Cohort Two
- An intensive in-person program at AASCU’s Washington, D.C. office on Sept. 9 and 10, 2026.
- Up to three 90-minute virtual sessions throughout the spring semester.
Get notified about the next application period.
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Have questions about the Department Chair Leadership Institute?
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2022 SSI Cohort
Mark
Byrnes
Provost and Professor of Political Science
Middle Tennessee State University
Matt
Cecil
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Northern Kentucky University
Maria L.
Cronley
Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs
Austin Peay State University (TN)
Tammy K.
Evetovich
Chancellor
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Jeffrey K.
Gibson
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs / Interim President
East Central University (OK)
Chaudron
Gille
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
University of North Georgia
Amy
Gort
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs
Metro State University (MN)
Vernon B.
Harper Jr.
Interim President
California State University, Bakersfield
John L.
Hoffman
President
Bemidji State University (MN)
Ruth Ray
Jackson
President
Langston University (OK)
Sharon Andrea
Jones
Former Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences
University of Washington Bothell
Katherine
Kantardjieff
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
California State University Monterey Bay
Jim
Mayrose
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
“State University of New York, Buffalo State”
Darcy
Medica
Provost and VP for Academic Affairs
State University of New York Cobleskill
Alisa L.
Mosley
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Jackson State University (MS)
Cheryl L.
Nixon
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Fort Lewis College
Duncan
Quarless
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
State University of New York College at Old Westbury
Kelly A.
Ryan
President
Eastern Oregon University
David A.
Starrett
Executive Vice President and Provost
State University of New York at Fredonia
Lance E.
Tatum
Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs,
Troy University (AL)
Daren
Timmons
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
University of South Carolina Aiken
2021 SSI Cohort
Mohamed
Abdelrahman
Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs
Colorado State University-Pueblo
Steven
Berberich
Provost and Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Bette
Bergeron
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
State University of New York College at Potsdam
Deborah
Bordelon
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
University of Houston-Downtown (TX)
Kent
Buchanan
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Adams State University (CO)
Heather
Coltman
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
James Madison University (VA)
Scott R.
Furlong
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
State University of New York at Oswego
Tamara
Jhashi
Senior Vice President and Provost
New Jersey City University
Ravi
Krovi
Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Weber State University (UT)
Kathleen
McAteer
Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs
Washington State University Tri-Cities
Nancy S.
Niemi
President
Framingham State University (MA)
Peter O.
Nwosu
President
State University of New York at Oswego
J. Michael
Parrish
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs / Provost
“City College of New York, College of Staten Island”
Clarenda
Phillips
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Missouri State University
Stacey
Robertson
President
Widener University (PA)
Leslie K.
Roundtree
Interim Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs
Chicago State University (IL)
Christie
Shelton
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Jacksonville State University (AL)
Kathie
Stromile Golden
Provost / Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Mississippi Valley State University
Maria
Woodside-Oriakhi
Vice President for Academic Affairs
University of The Bahamas
Learn more about the Student Success Institute.
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Student Success Institute
The Student Success Institute (SSI) is a leadership development program tailored to the needs of campus leaders driving student success initiatives. SSI will help individuals lead and implement transformational change necessary to meet the evolving needs of today’s student body.
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Prepare to lead transformational institutional change for student success.
The Student Success Institute (SSI) provides the most current and relevant expertise on promising practices in student success, leadership, data and assessment, and teaching and learning. Throughout the program, participants have the opportunity to build a strong and supportive network of peers, learn from leading experts in the field, and develop a core set of critical skills necessary for leading institutional change. A key feature of the program is structured time and space to reflect on and advance one’s own institutional student success plan with a small group of peers.
Who Should Participate
- Provosts and Vice Presidents for Student Affairs eager to explore effective strategies and their role in implementing them.
- Participants must have more than one year in their role.
How You’ll Benefit
- Learn from leading experts in the field. Program speakers will include sitting presidents, experienced provosts and vice presidents for student affairs, as well as national experts in areas such as leadership, student success, and data utilization.
- Develop critical skills necessary for leading institutional change. Participants will learn about key leadership skills and have opportunities to practically apply them to their work via a student success plan.
- Build a strong and supportive network of peers. Throughout the program, there will be multiple opportunities for participants to work together, in small groups and one-to-one settings, developing a group of trusted colleagues who can be called upon after the program is over.
- Have opportunities for reflection. Through guided discussions, short reflection prompts, small group discussions, and other activities, participants will have valuable time to engage in thoughtful reflection about their own assumptions and practices.
- Build a portfolio of source material. Throughout the program, participants will be given space and structure to collect and organize curricular materials to share at their institutions or to keep as reference following the conclusion of the program.
Ready to engage your team in transforming student outcomes?
what to expect
- Studies have shown that student success in college can increase economic mobility, reshape opportunities, and transform the lives of both students and their families.
- There is empirical evidence that changing institutional practices and policies can increase student success outcomes and narrow achievement and opportunity gaps among all students.
- Provosts and vice presidents for student affairs are critical agents of the president or chancellor in transforming their institutions to achieve greater student outcomes.
- Provosts, charged with overseeing the academic enterprise of an institution, and vice presidents for student affairs, charged with the support for the well-being of the whole student, are essential partners in student success.
Provosts and Vice Presidents for Student Affairs who participate in the SSI will:
- be able to assess and develop their leadership styles to more effectively drive positive change at their institutions.
- deepen their understanding of student success practices and further develop their skills to effectively implement promising practices.
- understand the specific roles data play and how to leverage data to increase and accelerate student success initiatives at their institutions.
- understand and be able to articulate the critical role of teaching and learning and supporting faculty development for student success.
- understand how to work in partnership with their Cabinet-level peers to develop and implement effective plans for student success initiatives.
Programming is a blended experience, with in-person and virtual programming. In-person programming will not be livestreamed or otherwise recorded. 100% attendance and participation is expected.
- An intensive in-person program at AASCU’s Washington, D.C. office
- Two interactive virtual workshops
- Regular coaching sessions with program faculty
- A student success plan that the participant designs for their campus
- Campus plan presentations at the AASCU Summer Meeting for Academic and Student Affairs Leaders
In addition to the above meetings, all SSI participants will apply their learnings to a self-directed student success plan.
- Leadership
- Student Success
- Data
- Teaching and Learning
The Student Success Institute (SSI) is a leadership development program tailored to the needs of campus leaders driving student success initiatives. Participants include provosts and vice presidents of student affairs. Participants must have at least one year in their current role.
All eligible members will be admitted as space allows. Nonmembers who are eligible will be allowed to register if space is available. Participants may register and attend as a pair from the same institution, or individually. Participants from the same institution will work together to develop or refine the campus student success plan.
A complete application for the Student Success Institute includes the following:
- Applications and endorsements.
- Nomination or endorsement from the president or chancellor from your home institution. (Only one endorsement required per provost/VPSA pair.)
- Clear and concise summary of your leadership and student success goals.
- Commitment to 100% participation.
Preference is given to applicants from AASCU member institutions.
Registration Fees
- Participants from AASCU member institutions: $4,200
- Participants from non-member institutions: $5,200 (admitted if space allows)
The program fee covers program administration, meals during the in-person intensives, registration for the AASCU Summer Meeting for Academic and Student Affairs Leaders and all materials. Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation.
Scholarships
- Limited scholarships are available to accepted applicants from AASCU member institutions.
Testimonial
Meet the 2023 Cohort
Martin
Abraham
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
State University of New York at Brockport
Pamela G.
Arrington
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Undergraduate Studies
Alabama A&M University
Laura
Boren
Executive Vice President for Student Engagement & Success
Georgia Southwestern State University
Kristin
Landis-Piwowar
Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education, Quality Assurance, and Accreditation
Oakland University (MI)
Shay
Little
Vice President for Student Affairs
Georgia Southern University
Glendalí
Rodríguez
Provost and Vice Chancellor- Academic Affairs
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Debbie
Storrs
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Yoshiko
Takahashi
Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Central Washington University
Catherine M.
Wehlburg
Interim President
Athens State University (AL)
Get notified about the next application period.
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