Wharton County Junior College President Dr. Amanda Allen and the WCJC Board of Trustees will participate in the Aspen Institute’s Presidents & Trustees Collaborative, an initiative designed to strengthen board-president alignment in an effort to improve student outcomes. Pictured, left to right, are board member Jay Roussel, board member Terry Lynch, board Vice Chair Dr. Priscilla Metcalf, board Chair J. Paul Pope, WCJC President Dr. Amanda Allen, board Secretary Dr. Bret Macha, board member Dr. Sue Zanne Williamson Urbis and board member Larry Sitka.
WHARTON, TEXAS — Wharton County Junior College President Dr. Amanda Allen has been selected to the prestigious Aspen Institute’s Rising Presidents Fellowship. Over the next year, Allen will collaborate with educational leaders from across the nation in an effort to develop new strategies for student success at WCJC.
“This is an incredible opportunity for Wharton County Junior College. As a new President, I will have the opportunity to learn from experts who are driving innovation in community colleges across the nation,” Allen said. “My goal is to bring those insights back to WCJC so that we can shape a future-ready college; one that equips our students to excel academically, build meaningful careers and strengthen the communities we serve.”
Allen is one of only 40 leaders from a pool of 120 applicants to be selected for the fellowship. Those chosen represent educational leaders from 19 states ranging from larger urban colleges to more rural institutions. Fellowship participants collaborate with community college presidents and experts in education and learn from field-leading research, examine demographic and labor market conditions for their communities, access student data and advance a clear vision for excellent outcomes for their students.
“This cohort of fellows is clearly committed to advancing student success and has the talent to lead transformational reforms,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “We are really looking forward to our year with them in the fellowship and bringing their talents into our alumni network.”
Allen will further participate in the Presidents & Trustees Collaborative, an Aspen Institute initiative designed to strengthen board-president alignment in an effort to improve student outcomes. Members of the Wharton County Junior College Board of Trustees will join Allen in the collaborative, which includes virtual and in-person sessions aimed at aligning governance practices with student success priorities.
“The timing of Dr. Allen's selection for this program as she assumes her new role of President is a lucky one for the college,” said WCJC Board of Trustees Chair J. Paul Pope. “She will have access to the world class expertise at Aspen and among other participants in the program at the very time that she and the board develop and implement a strategic vision for the future.”
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington D.C. and has a campus in Aspen, Colo., as well as an international network of partners. For more information, visit aspeninstitute.org
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