40 Michigan community college leaders participating in statewide leadership academy training this fall
Michigan is one of three states to receive grant funding to build leadership capacity at community colleges
LANSING, MICH — The Michigan Community College Association has launched its seventh cohort of its Leadership Academy, including college leaders from across the state.
The MCCA Leadership Academy is a hands-on, Michigan-specific professional development program for emerging leaders in the community college sector. Participants are nominated by their community college President or Chancellor. The nine-month cohort learning journey includes six live sessions with action-based learning projects in between, experiential learning activities, coaching and mentoring, and a capstone graduation experience at the annual MCCA Student Success Summit.
This year’s cohort includes 40 fellows from 24 community colleges. This project, which is made possible by generous funding from the Ascendum Education Group, the ECMC Foundation, and the Kresge Foundation, aims to address this challenge by strengthening the pipeline of leaders within colleges. Michigan is joining New York and Texas in this project and will lead practitioners through the year-long curriculum.
Community colleges often struggle to attract and retain the talented leaders they need to train the leaders of tomorrow for in-demand fields.
“Providing our college staff with leadership training will ensure they have the skills to help our students succeed now and into the future,” said Erica Orians, Vice President at the MCCA. “We are extremely proud of the Leadership Academy and are appreciate the support from our funders to host this program.”
This year’s cohort includes:
Shannon Anderson- Financial Aid Counselor at Gogebic Community College
Chris Barry- Dean of Student Services at West Shore Community College
Jodie Beckley- Director of Personal and Professional Learning at Schoolcraft College
Scott Behrens- Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success at Monroe County Community College
Lisa Brooker- Director of Financial Aid at Schoolcraft College
Bentrelle Carroll- Director of Compliance at Lansing Community College
Marianne Croze- Associate Dean of Health & Human Services at Lansing Community College
Scott Cubberly- Director of Eastern Academic Center & Business & Industry Partnerships at Kellogg Community College
Renee David- Director of Corporate Services & Lifelong Learning at Mott Community College
Lindsey Dickinson- Director of Advising at Northwestern Michigan College
Jennifer Dodson- Chief Financial Officer and Controller at Glen Oaks Community College
Jessica Esperanza- Associate Professor of Spanish, Study Abroad Coordinator, International Institute Co-coordinator & World Languages and Cultures Department Chair at Mott Community College
Shannon Fischer- Assistant Comptroller at Jackson College
Jon Foco- Director of Business Services at Delta College
Anna Fontaine- Education & Student Development Faculty at Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Sheryl Hammock- Dean of Occupational Education at Bay Mills Community College
Anna Hansard- Director of Web Services at Oakland Community College
Jamillya Hardley- Assistant Director of Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Grand Rapids Community College
Sara Hermann- Controller at Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Nicole Hutchings- Director of Personnel Services at Macomb Community College
Ken James- Chief Diversity Officer at Muskegon Community College
Kari Klemme- Marketing Strategist at Gogebic Community College
Taylor Male- Director of Facilities at Montcalm Community College
Katie Malone- Director of Financial Aid at North Central Michigan College
Lynn Martinson- Director of Business Office at Bay College
LaToya Mason- Dean of Health Sciences at Lake Michigan College
Carly McCall- Director of Alumni Engagement at Northwestern Michigan College
Kristen McDermott- Director of Student Life at Kellogg Community College
Andrew McQueen- Campus Provost at Wayne County Community College
Clevester Moten- Business Instructor & Program Head of Public Administration and Management at Jackson College
Sarah Rowley- Director of Purchasing & Auxiliary Services at Oakland Community College
Jennifer Scott- Director of Student Financial Services at Grand Rapids Community College
Erwin Sellmos- Professor of Sociology at West Shore Community College
Erin Sonneveldt- Director of Institutional Research and Assessment at North Central Michigan College
Dawn Stone- Dean of Workforce Development at Alpena Community College
Ashley Storal- District Dean of Educational Affairs at Wayne County Community College
Kristin Tank- Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Muskegon Community College
John Thiel- Dean of Liberal Arts at Kirtland Community College
Barb Walden- Dean of Occupational Programs at Kirtland Community College
Michael Williams- Director of Financial Aid at Macomb Community College
The MCCA Leadership Academy includes curriculum from the National Center for Inquiry & Improvement, the Aspen College Excellence Program, and the Success Center for Ohio’s Community Colleges. The curriculum focuses on roles in leadership, student goals, student experience, leadership traits, institutional change, and external partnerships.
“Many community colleges are working to improve student success, but one of the most common disruptions to their reform efforts is the transition of critical staff members with no one ready to replace them,” said Chris Baldwin, Senior Fellow at the National Center for Inquiry & Improvement. “The Leadership Academy is designed to help colleges build a bench of mid-level employees who are adequately prepared to step into vacated leadership roles.”