Three Named to Help Groom Future Community College Leaders

American Association of Community Colleges Seeks Expansion to Meet Growing Need

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Three community college leaders have been named as national facilitators to help the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) expand its Future Leaders Institute (FLI) program over the next three years. The expansion reflects continuing enrollment growth within this largest sector of higher education, as well as new performance challenges presented by the Obama administration and others.

The professional development program was established in 2003 in response to the retirement of large numbers of community college presidents as well as mid- and senior-level college administrators.  AACC's three highly successful leadership development programs--known as FLI, FLI Advanced, and FLI@WDI (Workforce Development Institute)--provide career training and network building for rising leaders who have been nominated by their colleges.  

Dr. Martha Ellis, former president of Lee College in Baytown, Texas, facilitated the Future Leaders Institute offered in conjunction with AACC's annual Workforce Development Institute, held in Newport Beach, Calif., January 25-28, 2011. FLI@WDI was an intensive 1 1/2 day seminar designed for workforce training and continuing education professionals looking to move into higher leadership positions at community colleges.  Ellis has more than 25 years of community college experience, and served as president at Texas State Technical College-Waco and Lee College in Texas.  Ellis has a broad range of experience in leadership development.  Currently with the University of Texas System, Ellis fosters community college partnerships at the institutional, state and national levels.  She also serves as a coach in the Achieving the Dream national initiative.

Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail will facilitate FLI/Advanced June 26-30, 2011, in Baltimore, Md. It will be an intensive 5-day workshop designed for senior level administrators who hope soon to move into a college presidency. McPhail has more than 30 years experience in community colleges and served as president at Cypress College in Cypress, Calif.  More recently McPhail founded the Community College Leadership Doctoral Program at Morgan State University and the Institute for the Development of Multicultural Faculty and Administrators.  She currently serves as a coach for 11 Achieving the Dream colleges. FLI/Advanced was first offered in 2005.  Since that time, more than 160 individuals have attended.  

Dr. Pamila Fisher will continue to facilitate AACC's original Future Leaders Institute June 26-30, 2011, in Baltimore, Md. It will be an intensive 5-day workshop for mid-level community college administrators.  More than 500 individuals have attended this FLI landmark leadership program launched in 2004.  With more than 20 years experience in community colleges, Fisher began her involvement in leadership development in 1984 with the Asilomar Leadership Skills Seminar, a statewide leadership program for women in California's community colleges. She served as Chancellor for the Yosemite Community College District for 12 years.  Fisher has facilitated the Future Leaders Institute since 2005.  

Of the 700-plus individuals who have attended AACC's Future Leadership Institute events in the last six years, more than 70 of them have become community college presidents.  More than 275 others have made significant career moves.  

The American Association of Community Colleges is a national organization representing the nation's close to 1,200 community, junior and technical colleges and their more than 12 million students (credit and non-credit). Community colleges are the largest and fastest growing sector of higher education.

SOURCE American Association of Community Colleges