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April 16, 2019 – Dr. Darrin Hartness of Davidson County Community College joins community college leaders across the nation in the 2019-2020 class of the Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence. The fellowship is part of the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program.
The fellowship is a leadership program aimed at preparing the next generation of community college presidents to transform institutions to achieve higher and more equitable levels of student success, both in college and in the labor market.
“I am looking forward to this Presidential Fellowship as I spend time with and learn from colleagues from around the nation,” Hartness said. “As we share ideas and learn from thought partners and experts in the field, this cohort will become better equipped to support the community colleges and communities we serve.”
Hartness and the 39 other Aspen Presidential Fellows will embark on a 10-month fellowship beginning in July 2019. Delivered in collaboration with the Stanford Educational Leadership Initiative, the fellows will work with mentors – current and former community college presidents – who have achieved exceptional outcomes for students throughout their careers. Fellows will also learn from national experts about ways to harness data to assess student success outcomes, strategies for internal change leadership and how to create strong external partnerships with K-12 schools, four-year colleges and employers.
The Aspen Presidential Fellowship responds to a specific and growing need for a new generation of leaders who are well-equipped to meet the challenges of the future. Nationally, nearly 80 percent of community college presidents plan to retire in the next decade. The pathway to replace them has traditionally excluded women and people of color. The incoming class of Aspen Presidential Fellows is 65 percent female and non-binary, 43 percent are people of color, and their institutions vary widely in size and location.
“Evidence shows that substantial improvements in student success are achieved only when presidents have the commitment and skill needed to lead change within their institutions and through partnerships in the community,” Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program, said. “These fellows have been chosen because they embody that commitment and, we believe, will build their skills even further to become transformational presidents.”
Hartness was selected through a rigorous process that considered his abilities to take strategic risks, lead strong teams and cultivate partnerships, and focus on results-oriented improvements in student success and access.
For a bio and photo of Hartness and a list of the 2019-2020 class of Aspen Presidential Fellows, visit http://as.pn/1ky.
The Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence is supported by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, College Futures Foundation, Greater Texas Foundation, JP Morgan Chase Foundation, Joyce Foundation, Kresge Foundation and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to grow professionally through one of the most respected institutes in America,” Hartness said.
About Davidson County Community College
Founded in 1963, Davidson County Community College is a fully accredited, multi-campus college where students of all ages and backgrounds pursue academic and career-focused education in order to build successful futures. As one of 58 institutions within the North Carolina Community College System, DCCC offers more than 40 degree and professional certificate programs to students in Davidson and Davie counties, as well as affordable college-credit coursework to students who plan to transfer to 4-year universities. With a mission to serve the changing needs of students competing in a global environment, DCCC is committed to quality education, innovative and equitable learning experiences, training, and support across a wide range of 21st-century career fields. Visit Davidson County Community College at DavidsonCCC.edu.
About the Aspen College Excellence Program
The Aspen College Excellence Program aims to advance higher education practices and leadership strategies that significantly improve student outcomes. Through the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence, and other initiatives, the College Excellence Program works to improve colleges’ understanding and capacity to teach and graduate students, especially the growing population of low-income students and students of color on American campuses. For more information, visit highered.aspeninstitute.org.
Media Contact
Jonathan Williams
Communications Specialist
Davidson County Community College
PO Box 1287
office: (336) 224-4510
Jonathan_Williams@davidsondavie.edu