Aspen Presidential Fellowship Alumni 

As of March 2023, over 330 leaders have completed the Aspen Presidential Fellowship, 135 of which are serving as community college presidents. The Rising Presidents Fellowship (RPF) started in 2016 and the New Presidents Fellowship (NPF) began in 2020. This growing cadre of change-makers support each other, advance student success at their institutions, and influence the entire sector.

ALASKA

Justina Wilhelm, NPF 2
President
Iḷisaġvik College
ALABAMA

Ashli Wilkins, RPF 2
Vice President and Dean of Institutional Services and Community Development
Wallace Community College

ARIZONA

Kimberly Britt, RPF 4
Vice President of Academic Affairs
Phoenix College

Monica Castaneda, RPF 5
Vice President of Student Affairs
Glendale Community College
 
David Doré, RPF 2
President of Campuses and Executive Vice Chancellor
Pima Community College

Dolores Duran-Cerda, RPF 3
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Excellence
Pima Community College

Karla Fisher, RPF 2
Provost
Maricopa Community Colleges

Eric Leshinskie, RPF 4
Interim Provost
Maricopa Community Colleges

Lamata Mitchell, RPF 6

Greg Peterson, NPF 1
President
Chandler-Gilbert Community College 

Morgan Phillips, RPF 1
Vice Chancellor for Academic Excellence
Pima Community College

Lisa Rhine, RPF 1
President
Yavapai College

Rey Rivera, RPF 4
President
Estrella Mountain Community College

Ian Roark, RPF 4
Vice President of Workforce Development and Strategic Partnerships
Pima Community College

Irene Robles-Lopez, RPF 5
Vice President of Student Affairs
Pima Community College

Teresa Leyba Ruiz, RPF 3
President
Glendale Community College

Kate Smith, RPF 5
President
Rio Salado College

Edgar Soto, RPF 6
Vice President
Pima Community College Desert Vista Campus

CALIFORNIA

Seher Awan, NPF 2
President
Mission College

Julianna Barnes, NPF 1
President
Cuyamaca College

Ryan Cornner, RPF 3
Vice Chancellor of Educational Programs and Institutional Effectiveness
Los Angeles Community College District

Renee Craig-Marius, RPF 5
Vice-President of Student Services
Reedley College

Jeff DeFranco, NPF 1
President
Lake Tahoe Community College

Tawny Dotson, RPF 5
President
Yuba College

Jose Fierro, NPF 1
President
Cerritos College

Angélica Garcia, NPF 2
President
Berkeley City College

Daisy Gonzales, RPF 4
Acting Chancellor
California Community Colleges

Michael Gutierrez, RPF 1
President
Sacramento City College

Sean Hancock, RPF 3
President
Cerro Coso Community College

Lloyd Holmes, RPF 5
President
De Anza College

Stephanie Kashima, NPF 2
President
West Valley College

Tina King, RPF 6
Assistant Superintendent and Vice President
Southwestern College

Aisha Lowe, RPF 6
Vice Chancellor
California Community Colleges 

Mike Muñoz, RPF 6
Superintendent-President
Long Beach City College

Lizette Navarette, RPF 6
Executive Vice Chancellor
California Community Colleges

Cynthia Olivo, RPF 2
Vice President of Student Services
Pasadena City College

Dilcie Perez, RPF 5
Vice President of Student Services/Asst. Superintendent
Cerritos College

Meridith Randall, RPF 2
Vice President of Instruction
Golden West College

Ángel Reyna, NPF 2
President
Madera Community College

Star Rivera-Lacey, RPF 5
Superintendent/President
Palomar Community College District

Jessica Robinson, RPF 6
Vice President
Cuyamaca College

Vince Rodriguez, RPF 5
President
Coastline Community College

Ricky Shabazz, NPF 2
President
San Diego City College

Michele Siqueiros, RPF 2
President
The Campaign for College Opportunity

Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza, RPF 4
President
College of San Mateo

Brenda Thames, RPF 1
President
West Hills College Coalinga

James Todd, RPF 3
Assistant Superintendent and Vice President of Instruction and Planning
San Joaquin Delta College

Lena Tran, RPF 5
VP Strategic Partnerships & Workforce Innovation
San Jose City College

William Watson, RPF 1
Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Innovation
San José-Evergreen Community College District

Matthew Wetstein, RPF 1
Superintendent/President
Cabrillo College

Kristina Whalen, RPF 5
Vice President of Academic Services
Las Positas College

Denise Whisenhunt, RPF 4
President
Grossmont College

Lisa Cooper Wilkins, RPF 3
Assistant Superintendent and Vice President of Student Services
San Joaquin Delta College

COLORADO

Marielena DeSanctis, RPF 4
President
Community College of Denver

Eric Dunker, RPF 6
Associate Vice President and Dean
Arapahoe Community College

Lisa Matye Edwards, RPF 4
Vice President of Student Affairs
Arapahoe Community College

Rhonda Epper, RPF 2
President
Trinidad State Junior College

Matthew Gianneschi, RPF 1
Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff
Colorado Mountain College

Landon Pirius, RPF 3
Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs
Colorado Community College System

Kathryn Regjo, RPF 3
Vice President of Academic Affairs
Colorado Mountain College

Ryan Ross, RPF 6
Associate Vice Chancellor
Colorado Community College System

CONNECTICUT

Gregory DeSantis, RPF 4
Associate Vice President of Student Success and Academic Initiatives
Connecticut State Colleges and Universities

Ositadinma (John) Maduko, RPF 6
President
Connecticut State Community College

WASHINGTON D.C.

Michelle Asha Cooper, RPF 1
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Higher Education Programs and Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education
U.S. Department of Education

DELAWARE

Paula Pitcher, RPF 2
Senior Consultant
Llanes Consulting Group

FLORIDA

Lisa Armour, RPF 1
Vice President for Assessment, Research, and Technology
Santa Fe College

Heather Bigard, RPF 6
Provost and Executive Vice President
Lake-Sumter State College

Amy Bosley, RPF 3
Vice President of Organizational Development and Human Resources
Valencia College

Naima Brown, RPF 5
Vice President for Student Affairs
Santa Fe College

Pascale Charlot, RPF 4
President, Kendall Campus
Miami Dade College

Jesse Coraggio, RPF 1
Vice President, Community Impact
Community Foundation of Tampa Bay

Mildred Coyne, RPF 5
Senior Vice President Workforce Education and Innovation
Broward College

Gregory Haile, NPF 1
President
Broward College

Christina Hart, RPF 2
Former Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services
Indian River State College

Georgia Lorenz, NPF 2
President
Seminole State College of Florida

Kathleen Plinske, RPF 1
President
Valencia College

Sheri Rowland, RPF 4
Vice President for Student Affairs
Tallahassee Community College

Jean Wihbey, RPF 2
Provost-Campus President and Vice President of Workforce Development
Palm Beach State College

Tonjua Williams, RPF 1
President
St. Petersburg College

GEORGIA

Melissa Frank-Alston, RPF 2
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs/Institutional Effectiveness and Research
Augusta Technical College

Kimberly Lee, RPF 2
Vice President for Special Projects
Southern Crescent Technical College

Dana Nichols, RPF 3
Interim President
Georgia Highland College

Jermaine Whirl, RPF 5
President
Augusta Technical College

HAWAII

Tammi Oyadomari-Chun, RPF 5
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs for Community Colleges
University of Hawaii

IDAHO

Michelle Schutt, RPF 6
Vice President
College of Southern Idaho

ILLINOIS

Terri Berryman, RPF 2
Associate Vice President
McHenry County College

Kate Connor, RPF 6
Vice President
Harry S Truman College

Mark Curtis-Chavez, RPF 5
Provost
College of DuPage

Diana Del Rosario, RPF 1
Assistant Provost of Student Affairs
College of DuPage

Aarti Dhupelia, RPF 6
Vice President
National Louis University

Stacia Edwards, RPF 2
Deputy Provost
City College of Chicago

Pamela Lau, RPF 6
Executive Vice President and Incoming President
Parkland College

Claudia Mercado, RPF 4
Interim Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Harper College

Mark Mrozinski, RPF 1
Assistant Vice President of Workforce Development and Executive Dean of Community Education
Harper College

Avis Proctor, RPF 3
President
Harper College

Joianne Smith, NPF 1
President
Oakton Community College

Michelé Smith, RPF 3
Vice President of Workforce Solutions
Harper College

Lori Suddick, RPF 1
President
College of Lake County

INDIANA

Cory Clasemann, RPF 6

Susan Ellspermann, NPF 1
President
Ivy Tech Community College

IOWA

Brian Kelly, RPF 1
President
Clinton Community College

Kristen Raney, RPF 6
Vice Chancellor
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges 

KANSAS

Vincent Bowhay, NPF 2
President
Independence Community College

Andy Bowne, RPF 2
President
Johnson County Community College

Randy Weber, RPF 2
Vice President of Student Success and Engagement
Johnson County Community College

KENTUCKY

Uppinder Mehan, RPF 6

Anton Reece, NPF 2
President
West Kentucky Community and Technical College

LOUISIANA

DeDe Griffith, RPF 2
Vice Chancellor of Academics and Student Affairs
Northwest Louisiana Technical College

Willie Smith, NPF 2
Chancellor
Baton Rouge Community College

MASSACHUSETTS

William Heineman, RPF 4
President
North Shore Community College

Paul Hernandez, RPF 5
Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs
Mount Wachusett Community College

Luis Pedraja, NPF 1
President
Quinsigamond Community College

Arlene Rodríguez, RPF 6
Interim Provost/Vice President
Middlesex Community College

Christina Royal, NPF 1
President
Holyoke Community College

MARYLAND

Mary Way Bolt, RPF 2
President
Cecil College

Monica Brown, RPF 5
Senior Vice President for Student Affairs
Montgomery College

Stephen Cain, RPF 3
Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer
Montgomery College

Bill Comey, RPF 6
Vice President
College of Southern Maryland

Sanjay Rai, RPF 6
Senior Vice President
Montgomery College

Kate Thirolf, RPF 4
Faculty Lead
University of Maryland Global Campus

Monica Trent, RPF 6
Vice President
Achieving the Dream

Falecia Williams, RPF 2
President
Prince George's Community College 

Jermaine Williams, RPF 3, NPF 2
President
Montgomery County Community College

MINNESOTA

Hara Charlier, NPF 1
President
Central Lakes College

Annesa Cheek, RPF 1
President
St. Cloud Technical & Community College

Jennifer Eccles, RPF 6
System Director
Winona State University

Michelle Saboo, RPF 3
Niganawenimaanaanig Program Student Mentor
Bemidji State University

MICHIGAN

Jennifer Berne, RPF 2
Provost, Academic Affairs
Oakland Community College

Lisa Freiburger, RPF 1
Vice President for Finance and Administration
Grand Rapids Community College

Amy Fugate, RPF 1
Interim Vice President of Instructional Services
Kirtland Community College

Kimberly Hurns, RPF 6 

Russ Kavalhuna, NPF 1
President
Henry Ford College

Brian Knetl, RPF 3
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs
Grand Rapids Community College

Bill Pink, RPF 1
President
Grand Rapids Community College

Steve Robinson, RPF 2
President
Lansing Community College

John Selmon, RPF 4
Provost and Executive Vice President
Muskegon Community College

MISSISSIPPI

Cedric Bradley, RPF 6
Vice President
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Jonathan Woodward, RPF 5
Executive Vice President, Teaching & Learning and Community Campus
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

MONTANA

Ron Slinger, NPF 2
President
Miles Community College

NEBRASKA

Leah Barrett, NPF 2
President
Northeast Community College

NEVADA

Clarissa Cota, RPF 6
Vice President
College of Southern Nevada

NEW JERSEY

Lisa Dougherty, RPF 4
Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment
Hudson County Community College

Anthony Iacono, NPF 1
President
County College of Morris

Larry Johnson Jr., NPF 1
President
Stella and Charles Guttman Community College

Matthew Reed, RPF 1
Vice President for Learning
Brookdale Community College

NEW MEXICO

Rebecca Estrada, RPF 3
Community Outreach Specialist
Los Alamos National Laboratory

Mary Gutierrez, RPF 5
President
University of New Mexico-Taos

Tracy Hartzler, NPF 2
President
Central New Mexico Community College

Yash Morimoto, RPF 3
Associate Vice President for Planning and Institutional Effectiveness
Santa Fe Community College

NEW YORK

Michael Baston, RPF 1
President
Rockland Community College

Edward Bonahue, RPF 1
President
Suffolk County Community College

DeAnna Burt, RPF 5
President
Monroe Community College

Paulette Dalpes, RPF 1
Deputy to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
City University of New York

Ellen Gambino, RPF 2
Acting President
Dutchess Community College

Ryan Kelsey, RPF 3
Executive Director for Partnership Development
Markle Foundation

Christine Mangino, RPF 3
President
Queensborough Community College

Claudia Schrader, NPF 2
President
Kingsborough Community College

George Timmons, RPF 6
Provost and Senior Vice President
Columbia-Greene Community College

Karrin Wilks, RPF 1
Chief Learning Strategist
New York Jobs CEO Council

NORTH CAROLINA

Margaret Annunziata, RPF 5
President
Isothermal Community College

Levy Brown, RPF 6
Vice President
Vance-Granville Community College

Susan Burleson, RPF 3
Vice President of Davie Campus and Institutional Effectiveness
Davidson County Community College

John Buxton, NPF 2
President
Durham Technical Community College

Chris Cathcart, RPF 4
Vice President of Student Affairs
Central Piedmont Community College

Lisa Chapman, NPF 1
President
Central Carolina Community College

Tracie Clark, RPF 6
Vice President
Central Piedmont Community College

Jeff Cox, RPF 2
President
Wilkes Community College

Rachel Desmarais, RPF 2
President
Vance-Granville Community College

John Enamait, RPF 4
President
Stanly Community College

Gayle Greene, RPF 1
Executive Vice President
Wake Technical Community College

Darrin Hartness, RPF 4
President
Davidson-Davie Community College

Brian Merritt, RPF 5
President
McDowell Technical Community College

Monique Perry, RPF 3
Executive Director
Teach for America: North Carolina

Maria Pharr, NPF 1
President
South Piedmont Community College

Pamela Senegal, NPF 1
President
Piedmont Community College

Kimberly Sepich, RPF 1
Program Manager
Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research

Janet Spriggs, RPF 3, NPF 1
President
Forsyth Technical Community College

Thomas A. Walker Jr., RPF 1
President
Wayne Community College

Joel Welch, RPF 5
President
Western Piedmont Community College

Yolanda Wilson, RPF 4
Vice President of Instruction
Wilkes Community College

NORTH DAKOTA

Kaylyn Bondy, RPF 5
Vice President for Student Affairs
Bismarck State College

Jane Vangsness Frisch, RPF 4
Vice President for Student Affairs
North Dakota State College of Science

OHIO

Marcia Ballinger, RPF 1
President
Lorain County Community College

Rebecca Butler, RPF 4
Executive Vice President
Columbus State Community College

Denise Douglas, RPF 6
Dean
Lorain County Community College

Theresa Felder, RPF 4
Senior Vice President, Student Success
Clark State Community College

Eric Heiser, RPF 3
Provost
Central Ohio Technical College

Tiffany Hunter, RPF 6
Provost and Vice President
Clark State College 

Vicky Lynn Wood, RPF 2
President
Washington State Community College 

OKLAHOMA

Kevin David, RPF 2
Portfolio Executive Leader
CampusWorks Inc.

Leigh B. Goodson, RPF 1
President and CEO
Tulsa Community College

Scott Newman, RPF 5
President
Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City

Monte Randall, NPF 2
President
College of the Muscogee Nation

OREGON

Katy Ho, RPF 2
Vice President of Academic Affairs
Portland Community College

Jessica Howard, NPF 1
President
Chemeketa Community College

Ali Mageehon, RPF 5
Vice President of Instruction
Southwestern Oregon Community College

Rachel Pokrandt, NPF 2
President
Umpqua Community College

PENNSYLVANIA

Chrissy Davis, RPF 5
Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College
 
Felicia Ganther, RPF 2
President
Bucks County Community College

David Thomas, RPF 4
Associate Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Dean of Access and Community Engagement
Community College of Philadelphia

RHODE ISLAND

Meghan Hughes, RPF 1
President
Community College of Rhode Island

SOUTH CAROLINA

Catharine Almquist, RPF 3
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Trident Technical College

Galen DeHay, RPF 4
President
Tri-County Technical College

SOUTH DAKOTA

Diane Stiles, RPF 6
Vice President
Lake Area Technical College

TENNESSEE

Rebecca Ashford, NPF 2
President
Chattanooga State Community College

Shanna Jackson, RPF 3, NPF 1
President
Nashville State Community College

TEXAS

Zarina Blankenbaker, RPF 2
President, Northwest Campus
Tarrant County College

Helen Brewer, RPF 6
Vice President
College of the Mainland

Tamara Clunis, RPF 5
Vice President of Academic Affairs
Amarillo College

Kurt Ewen, RPF 5
Vice Chancellor, Strategy, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness
Houston Community College

Virginia Fraire, RPF 3
Associate Provost
University of Texas at El Paso

Iris Freemon, RPF 6
Associate Vice Chancellor
Dallas College

Veronica Garcia, NPF 2
President
Northeast Lakeview College

Susan Guzman-Trevino, RPF 5
Vice President, Academic Affairs
Temple College

Mary Harris, RPF 3
Vice President of Institutional Planning, Development & Evaluation
Austin Community College

Jenna Cullinane Hege, RPF 4
Vice President for Institutional Research and Analytics
Austin Community College

Beatriz Joseph, RPF 3
Vice Chancellor for Student Success, President of Mountainview Campus
Dallas College 

Jennifer Kent, RPF 5
President
Victoria College

Dorado Kinney, RPF 4
Executive Dean of Student Affairs
Austin Community College

Russell Lowery-Hart, RPF 1
President
Amarillo College

Kimberly Lowry, RPF 5
Vice President of Instruction and Student Success
Lone Star College-Houston North

S. Sean Madison, RPF 4
President, Trinity River Campus
Tarrant County College

Donna McDaniel, RPF 5
Vice President of Instruction
Texarkana College

Greg Morris, RPF 3
Vice President of Academic Affairs
Dallas County Community College District

Shawnda Navarro Floyd, RPF 6
Provost
Dallas College

Catherine O'Brien, RPF 3
Associate Vice Chancellor of College Readiness
Houston Community College

Mayra Olivares-Urueta, RPF 5
Associate Professor of Professional Practice, College of Education
Texas Christian University

Julie Penley, RPF 5
Vice President of Research, Accreditation & Planning
El Paso Community College

Christina Ponce, NPF 2
President
Temple College

Gaye Lynn Scott, RPF 4
Associate Vice President, Academic Programs
Austin Community College

Deana Sheppard, RPF 4
Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs
Tyler Junior College 

Steven Smith, RPF 2
Vice President of Instruction and Workforce Education
El Paso Community College

Diane Snyder, RPF 1
Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration
Alamo Colleges

Scott Stallman, RPF 4
Vice President of Instruction, Tomball Campus
Lone Star College

Jackie Thomas, Jr., RPF 5
Chief Strategist
Lone Star College-Tomball

Veronique Tran, RPF 4
Vice Provost, School of Manufacturing and Industrial Technologies
Dallas College 

Monique Umphrey, RPF 1
President, Northeast Campus
Houston Community College

Lynda Villanueva, RPF 1
President
Lee College

Van Wigginton, RPF 6
Provost
San Jacinto College

VIRGINIA

Kim Blosser, NPF 1
President
Lord Fairfax Community College

David Brand, RPF 2
Vice President of Academic Affairs
Stratford University

Porter Brannon, RPF 3
Vice President of Student Services
Thomas Nelson Community College

Greg Hodges, NPF 2
President
Patrick & Henry Community College

Julie Leidig, RPF 4
Provost, Loudoun Campus
Northern Virginia Community College

Corey McCray, RPF 5
Interim President
Paul D. Camp Community College

Paula Pando, RPF 2
President
Reynolds Community College

Nicole Reaves, RPF 5
Executive Vice President and Chief Programs Officer
Wake Technical Community College

Jean Runyon, RPF 6
President
Piedmont Virginia Community College

Lisa Stich, RFP 3
Senior Specialist, Postsecondary Data Partnerships
National Student Clearinghouse

Kristen Westover, RPF 1
President
Mountain Empire Community College

WASHINGTON

Gita Bangera, RPF 5
Dean of Connected Learning
Bellevue College

John Bonner, RPF 3
Interim Executive Vice President of Instruction and Student Services and Vice President of Corporate and Workforce Training
Everett Community College

Kevin Brockbank, NPF 1
President
Spokane Community College

Matthew Campbell, RPF 4
Vice President for Learning and Student Success
Pierce College Puyallup

Karin Edwards, NPF 2
President
Clark College

Ivan Harrell II, NPF 1
President
Tacoma Community College

Yoshiko Harden, RPF 6
Vice President
Seattle Central College

Suzanne M. Johnson, RPF 1, NPF 1
President
Green River College

Kenneth Lawson, RPF 4
Vice President for Instruction
Skagit Valley College

Kevin McCarthy, NPF 1
President
Renton Technical College

Kimberlee Messina, NPF 2
President
Spokane Falls Community College

John Mosby, RPF 2
President
Highline College

Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, RPF 4
President
South Seattle College

Marissa Schlesinger, RPF 3
Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Tacoma Community College

Amit Singh, RPF 2
President
Edmonds Community College

Kristi Wellington-Baker, RPF 2
Student Success Center and Guided Pathways Director
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

Julie White, RPF 3
President
Pierce College Fort Steilacoom

Rebecca Williamson, RPF 3
Administrator
Washington State Employment Security Department

Rebekah Woods, RPF 2
President
Columbia Basin College

WEST VIRGINIA

Joshua Baker, RPF 4
President
Mountwest Community and Technical College

Patrick Murphy, RPF 3
Superintendent
Berkeley County Schools

Casey Sacks, RPF 1
Interim Vice Chancellor
West Virginia Community and Technical College System

WISCONSIN

Paul Carlsen, NPF 1
President
Lakeshore Technical College

Tim Casper, RPF 3
Executive Vice President, Student Affairs & Institutional Effectiveness
Madison Area Technical College

Aliesha Crowe, RPF 4
Vice President of College Advancement
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

Sue Cui, RPF 3
Senior Program Officer, Education Philanthropy
Ascendium Education Group

Kathryn Rogalski, RPF 6
Vice President
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

Russell Swagger, NPF 2
President
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College

Mark Weber, RPF 2
Independent Consultant
New Lean Consulting LLC