Kapiʻolani Community College Chancellor Misaki Takabayashi was selected as one of 23 community college presidents to participate in the third cohort of the , a unique year-long professional development experience supported by JPMorganChase. During the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, fellows will develop a reform strategy that helps more of their students graduate into good jobs, either directly after community college or following transfer and bachelor degree attainment.
“We know from 15 years of intensive research how the best community colleges equip students with the skills and credentials that lead to good jobs and flourishing lives,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the College Excellence Program. “These 23 presidents have committed to strengthening their institutions so those outcomes become the norm for every student.”
Advancing student success
Through the year-long program, fellows will work with highly accomplished community college presidents, Aspen leaders, and each other to analyze local labor markets, their colleges¡¯ outcomes, national models of excellence, and lessons from highly successful presidents. The reform agendas they draft are then pressure-tested during multi-day residential sessions, multiple webinars, and feedback from peers and experts.
“I am deeply honored to be selected for the Aspen Presidents Fellowship,” Takabayashi said. “This will be a team project for Kapiʻolani Community College and allow us to further strengthen Kapiʻolani Community College¡¯s commitment to use data-based decisions to advance student success, workforce development, and creating pathways in support of communities across Â鶹´«Ã½.”
The cohort members join a growing network of 433 fellowship alumni, including 202 community college presidents, committed to strengthening student success and economic mobility in their communities.