Aspen Presidents Fellowship
The Aspen Presidents Fellowship is a year-long executive leadership program for 25 community college presidents who want to advance social mobility and talent development in their communities by improving student outcomes. The program's curriculum includes frameworks and case studies reflecting the practices of field exemplars, customized data reports and assessment tools, and structured inquiry with peers and experts. In the end, the fellowship is designed to help fellows better understand their institutions and the success of their students, while also developing a bold reform agenda to advance student success.
Introduction
The Aspen Presidents Fellowship offers 25 community college leaders a year-long program that includes two residential sessions, structured conversations with facilitators and peers, and opportunities for virtual learning. Presidents receive customized reports to more deeply understand three things: student outcomes at their institutions and after transferring; the most available good jobs in their region; and the extent to which their institutions’ programs and practices align to Aspen’s research on high-performing community colleges. Using exemplary models from the field, fellows evaluate their student success reform agendas to focus and refine their strategies with the support of their peer fellows, accomplished presidents, and field experts.
The curriculum is organized around three themes drawn from Aspen’s research into how excellent community colleges have achieved excellent student outcomes: (1) prioritized collegewide student success strategies that deliver results, (2) external partnerships with employers, universities, and K-12 schools that improve student outcomes at scale, and (3) institutional capacities (including finance and data use) that enable student success strategies and partnerships to succeed. The program is free for participants, thanks to a generous grant from JPMorgan Chase.
Applications Closed
Applications for the next cohort of the Presidents Fellowship will open in Fall 2025.
FAQs
To be eligible for the Aspen Presidents Fellowship, community college presidents should meet the following criteria:
- Have served as a community college president for a minimum of three years
- Lead an institution that is ready for scaled, systemic change to improve student outcomes
- Fall into one of the following categories:
- Presidents whose institution is nearing the conclusion of an existing strategic plan and seeking to embark on the next significant reform
- Presidents serving in their second presidency at a new institution who are eager to collaborate with experts and peers nationwide to advance their reform agenda
- Presidents with an ongoing reform agenda who are seeking expert guidance to bring their initiatives to fruition
Additionally, alumni of the Aspen Rising Presidential Fellowships who fulfill the above criteria are strongly encouraged to apply and further contribute to our community of change-makers.
If you have any questions about the fellowship or eligibility, please message our team at CEP.fellowship@aspeninstitute.org.
- A yearlong commitment involving interactive engagement with peers and facilitators, including participation in two immersive, multi-day in-person seminars led by esteemed Aspen Institute staff, seasoned community college leaders, and prominent experts in the field of higher education; monthly calls; and online asynchronous activities
- Opportunities for collaborative work within small groups, facilitated by peers and experts
- Dedicated support for analyzing your college's student outcomes, with a keen focus on equity and fostering a comprehensive understanding of your institution's strengths, areas for improvement, and opportunities to advance excellence and equity in student success
- Customized data reports that include disaggregated college data benchmarked against Aspen Prize finalists and the labor market and demographic data for your service area, as well as interactive dashboards focused on program enrollment
- Structured guidance and assistance to propel each college’s agenda for student success reform
- Access to a robust network of innovative peers, fostering both support and constructive challenge as fellows collectively pursue transformative change in the higher education landscape
Applications for the next cohort of the Presidents Fellowship will open in Fall 2025.
Applicants will submit an interest to apply form to gain access to the full application through the fellowship’s online application system. Applications will be reviewed and scored by committees of current and former presidents and other higher education leaders. Selected applicants will be advanced to an interview round and selection decisions will be announced in 2025.
Dates for the next cohort will be announced in 2025.
This program, which includes meals and lodging for the residential seminars, is free for participants thanks to generous support from JPMorgan. Fellows are responsible for all travel costs.
Meet the 2024-2025 Class
Fellowship Alumni
As of March 2023, over 330 leaders have completed one of Aspen’s two Presidential Fellowship programs, 156 of whom are serving as community college presidents. Alumni from these two programs constitute a growing cadre of change-makers who lead at colleges that educate millions of students
-
Press ReleaseThe Aspen Institute Names the Second Cohort of the Aspen Presidents Fellowship
— October 22, 2024 -
Press Release
The Aspen Institute Names the First Cohort of the Aspen Presidents Fellowship
— September 19, 2023 -
Press Release
25 Community College Presidents Selected for Aspen Institute’s New Presidents Fellowship to Advance Student Success
— September 20, 2021 -
Blog PostAspen IDEAS: Heads of the Class
— September 25, 2019
Funders
Contact Us
For more information, please contact: Alison Quint, Associate Director