Kirkwood president selected for Aspen Institute Presidents Fellowship

Kristie Fisher is one of 25 community college leaders chosen for the program

CREDIT KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

Kirkwood Community College President Kristie Fisher has been named one of 25 leaders chosen for the second cohort of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program’s Aspen Presidents Fellowship, as stated in a press release from the school.

Sponsored by JPMorgan Chase, the program provides a year-long professional development experience aimed at helping participants implement reforms to boost student success during and after college.

“Community colleges educate millions of diverse students every year who are relying on them to deliver the education and credentials they need for a fulfilling life and career,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the College Excellence Program, in the release. “I am delighted that these 25 accomplished presidents have committed to strengthening their institutions’ strategies to ensure that more students achieve those aims.”

Throughout the program, fellows will collaborate with community college presidents, Aspen Institute leaders, and one another to examine their colleges’ outcomes and develop plans inspired by best practices in the field. The curriculum includes data reports on job opportunities, student outcomes related to completion and transfer, and qualitative analyses of institutional alignment with research-backed success strategies.

The second cohort of Aspen Presidents Fellows is made up 52% women and 44% people of color, the release states. These fellows join a network of 375 alumni, 176 of whom currently serve as community college presidents. Aspen provides continued support to this network through targeted professional development, research briefings, and national conference convenings.

“I am honored to be selected as an Aspen Presidential Fellow this year,” Ms. Fisher said in the release. “While Kirkwood has always focused on student success and outcomes, collaborating with the Aspen Institute and some of the top community college leaders in the country will offer new insights and opportunities to fulfill our work.”

The fellowship is funded by JPMorgan Chase as part of its New Skills at Work initiative, which aims to prepare young people for future employment and meet the rising demand for skilled workers. As stated in the release, it is also supported by JPMorgan Chase’s $30 billion commitment to advancing racial equity and fostering an inclusive economy.