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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Sylvia Alva, Mildred García, Michael Dumont and Luke Wood at NPA 2023.
Sylvia Alva, Mildred García, Michael Dumont and Luke Wood at NPA 2023.

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.  

2023 New Presidents Academy cohort.
2023 New Presidents Academy cohort.

 

Who Should Participate

  • The 2024 academy is open to first-time AASCU member and non-member presidents and chancellors appointed after July 2023. Exceptions may be made for presidents who began prior to July 2023 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 2024 NPA will take place from July to December 2024. 

 The program will feature:   

  • Four-day, in-person gathering (July 24-27, 2024 at the Omni La Costa in Carlsbad, California) 
  • Monthly  interactive cohort gatherings via Zoom held over three months (August, September, and October) 
  • Half-day in-person gathering in November 16 in conjunction with AASCU’s Annual Conference (November 16-19, 2024 in Puerto Rico)  
  • Formal mentoring with NPA faculty and current and retired AASCU presidents and chancellors (October 2024–May 2025)
  • Access to AASCU (phone a friend) resource list of AASCU presidents and chancellors 
  • The 2024 academy is open to first-time AASCU member and non-member presidents and chancellors appointed after July 2023.
  • Exceptions may be made for presidents who began prior to July 2023 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. 

2024 Registration Fees
  • Presidents/Chancellors from AASCU member institutions: $6,000
  • Presidents/Chancellors from non-member institutions: $8,000 
  • The registration fee covers program administration, meals during the in-person intensive, and all materials. The registration fee also includes participation in AASCU’s 2024 Annual Conference, November 16-19, Puerto Rico.
Scholarships
  • Limited scholarships are available to accepted applicants from AASCU member institutions.
Cancellation Policy
  • Cancellation requests received on or after June 3, 2024 are NOT eligible for a refund.
  • If you need to cancel after June 3 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.
Is my institution an AASCU member?

Presidential spouses/ partners are welcome to attend our 2024 New Presidents Academy opening reception (July 24, 2024) and our closing reception and dinner (July 27, 2024). We encourage spouses/partners to participate in our AASCU Spouse/Partner Program at our 2024 Annual Conference (November 16-19, Puerto Rico) which will provide networking opportunities, professional development, and guidance, all tailored to the unique needs of presidential spouses and partners.

2024 Registration Fees 

  • Presidential spouse/partner from AASCU member institution: $1100
  • Presidential spouse/partner from non-member institutions: $1200
  • The registration fee includes meals during the NPA meeting and participation in AASCU’s 2024 Annual Conference, November 16-19, Puerto Rico.
Testimonials

“Thank you all for gifting me one of the most personally enriching professional experiences I have ever had. I’m honored to have shared time and space with all of you.”

Andrés Acebo

Interim President
New Jersey City University

‘I learned so much and am looking forward to applying that knowledge now and in the future. A special thanks to the faculty for sharing their experiences and their vulnerabilities. It was truly inspiring, and I appreciated the modeling for all of us in our current and future roles.”

Karen Riley

President
Slippery Rock University (PA)

NPA is an absolute must for all new college and university presidents. The depth of knowledge of the faculty and laser focus on mission critical best practices for success are extremely valuable. The intentionality and rich diversity of the NPA faculty and cohort members also speaks volumes about AASCU’s preeminent role in shaping the future of higher education.

Ericke Cage

President
West Virginia State University

Absolutely amazing. The right experience at the right time. I can see tangible ways that this is going to help me accelerate my transition, listen more deeply, and advance the work among a network of equity-minded colleagues.

John Hoffman

President
Bemidji State University (MN) and Northwest Technical College (MN)
Meet the 2023 Cohort
Andres Acebo

Andres

Acebo

Interim President

New Jersey City University

Sylvia Alva

Sylvia A.

Alva

President

California State University Fullerton

Bonita Brown

Bonita

Brown

Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer

Northern Kentucky University

Alexander

Conyers

President

South Carolina State University

Ron Darbeau

Ron W.

Darbeau

Chancellor

Penn State Altoona

Michael J.

Dumont

Interim President

California State University Maritime Academy

Daniel

Ennis

President

Delta State University (MS)

Anita Borja

Enriquez

President

University of Guam

Rick Esch

Richard T.

Esch

President

University of Pittsburgh at Bradford

Aubra

Gantt

Chancellor

Southern University Shreveport-Bossier City Campus

Jay D.

Gatrell

President

Eastern Illinois University

Anthony Graham

Anthony

Graham

Interim Chancellor

Winston-Salem State University (NC)

Corey King

Corey A.

King

Chancellor

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Todd G.

Lamb

President

University of Central Oklahoma

Tomikia P.

Legrande

President

Prairie View A&M University (TX)

Peter O.

Nwosu

President

State University of New York at Oswego

Salvador Hector

Ochoa

President

Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Ron

Patterson

President

Chadron State College (NE)

Stuart Rayfield

Stuart E.

Rayfield

President

Columbus State University (GA)

Karen Riley

Karen

Riley

President

Slippery Rock University (PA)

Dennis Rome

Dennis M.

Rome

Chancellor

Indiana University East

Lester

Sandres Rápalo

President

State University of New York Rockland Community College

Michael Shannon

Michael P.

Shannon

President

University of North Georgia

Dwayne

Smith

Interim President

Southern Connecticut State University

Suzanne Smith

Suzanne

Smith

President

State University of New York College at Potsdam

David Tandberg

David A.

Tandberg

President

Adams State University (CO)

Luke

Wood

President

California State University Sacramento

Our Partners

Application Details

New Presidents Academy is open to first-time AASCU member and non-member presidents and chancellors appointed after July of the previous year. Exceptions may be made for presidents who began prior to July 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 is closed.  Sign up below to be notified about regristration for the 2024 cohort.

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