Community college leadership development, amid many transitions, is a key topic for administrators and board members to consider. In this report, I will summarize some of the major statewide and national leadership initiatives helping with succession planning in our sector.
Last week, I was one of the faculty members at the American Association of Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC) Leaders Institute in Austin. AAWCC reimbursed my travel costs in order for me to attend and lecture on Governance and Policy in Community Colleges. In speaking with the 50 participants from around the United States, I focused my time on the major competencies needed for governance and policy development, in content adapted from the American Association of Community Colleges’ Competencies for Community College Leaders. I also covered shared governance, an important principle of community college administration. I have agreed to serve as faculty next year as well; LBCC will send a participant to add to the cohort.
As I have presented in other reports, the Aspen College Excellence Program offers professional development to college presidents and those who aspire to the role. I am currently serving in the Aspen Presidential Fellowship, ending in 2024.
Also on a national level, the American Association of Community Colleges supports two leadership development programs: Future Leaders Institute and Future Presidents Institute. This year, we will send Jason Dorsette to the Future Leaders Institute, which I attended in 2012. Former LBCC President Dr. Greg Hamann is the facilitator for this gathering. We have not yet sponsored anyone to attend the Future Presidents Institute, but would consider doing so if conditions merit.
In Oregon, we also have a tradition of trying to support emerging leaders. Oregon Institute for Leadership Development (OILD) is for women interested in expanding their leadership skills. OILD is currently facilitated by two LBCC employees, Dr. Kristina Holton and Amy Burbee. This year it will be held in Elkton, OR. The residential gathering seeks to promote professional and personal growth among participants. Each year, I attend and deliver a session, as do many of the other Oregon presidents. Usually, LBCC sponsors an employee to attend and this year it will be Erin Jacobsen, a classified staff member, from Automotive.
Oregon Executive Leadership Academy is sponsored by the Oregon Community College Association, and is intended for mid-career professionals. Faculty, classified staff and administrators can all participate. LBCC has sponsored several employees in the past and intends to send a participant next year as well. This training is led by Dr. Mary Spilde, former Lane Community College president.
Held at Menucha Retreat and Conference Center each June, the Great Teachers Seminar is aimed to help faculty celebrate classroom successes and innovate in a safe space together. LBCC’s participants this year are Melanie Wiens (Medical Assisting) and Whitney Funk (Phlebotomy). I have delivered sessions at Great Teachers in the past, and found it to be a wonderful setting for participants to dialogue about successful teaching techniques.
In conclusion, the need for developing leaders in our sector is significant. Retirements and labor force challenges mean that we will need far more applicants than are currently in the administrator and faculty leadership pipelines. I am glad that LBCC is active in these efforts and also I recognize that more needs to be done to help meet the higher education workforce needs.