In the summer of 2019, the Success Center launched the Leadership Academy for Student Success, a leadership development cohort program for mid-level faculty, staff, and administrators (below the vice president level) with clear leadership potential and interest in advancing within the college and the field.
The modularized curriculum of the OACC Leadership Academy has been developed in partnership with the National Center for Inquiry & Improvement (NCII) and OACC leadership and is divided into six sessions by topic area. The content for this program draws heavily on the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program Curriculum, is aligned with the strategic priorities of Ohio community colleges, and builds on the continued efforts to implement guided pathways.
Curriculum:
Session 1:
The Essential Roles of Leadership in Student Success
Modules:
- Defining Student Success
- Understanding Ohio’s Community Colleges and their Students
- Advocating for Ohio’s Community Colleges
Session 2:
Keeping Students’ End Goals in Mind
Modules:
- Improving Labor Market Outcomes
- Improving Transfer at Scale
Session 3:
The Student Experience
Modules:
- Improving Teaching and Learning
- Designing Holistic Support Students
Session 4:
Leadership Traits to Drive Change
Modules:
- Designing Transformational Leadership Qualities for Student Success
- Centering Student Needs as a Core Component of Leadership
Session 5:
Managing and Advancing Institutional Change
Modules:
- Building Strong Teams to Lead Institutional Transformation
- Using Finance Strategically to Advance Reforms
Session 6:
Effective External Partnerships and the Leadership Journey
Modules:
- Leading Highly Effective External Strategic Partnerships
- Improving Dual Enrollment Partnerships
- Reflecting on Your Personal Leadership Journey
Cohort 6: July 2025 to June 2019
Alicia Adams
Assistant Director, College Credit Plus, Sinclair Community College
Aaron Akey
Lead H&S Advisor, Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
Chloe Arredondo
Instructor Physical Therapist Assistant Program, Owens Community College
Jacob Bice
Testing Center Coordinator, Southern State Community College
Nate Brinker
Accounting Faculty, Belmont College
Jacklyn Callihan
Director of Marketing, Washington State College of Ohio
Stacie Campbell
AVP of Academics / CAO, Marion Technical College
Eric Charlton
Dean of Allied Health and Public Safety, Clark State College
Micah Covert
Director, Transfer & Public Services, Washington State College of Ohio
Adam Diiulio
Associate Dean, Business and Legal Professions, Cuyahoga Community College
Terry Farris
Executive Director for Workforce and Community Education, Terra State Community College
Collyn Floyd
Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Stark State College
Maddie Galloway
Director of Financial Aid, Washington State College of Ohio
Lynn Geist
Assistant Professor, Clark State College
Scott George
Registrar, North Central State College
Travis Green
Chemistry Faculty, North Central State College
Jamilah Jones
Dean - Arts & Sciences, Northwest State Community College
Sanja Keller
Program Director/Department Chair Respiratory Care, Sinclair Community College
Mark Mahoney
Assistant Dean, Columbus State Community College
Connor Malan
Lead Accountant, Terra State Community College
Matthew Mercado
Manager, Student Success Programs, Lorain County Community College
Nadia Nakonecznyj Leary
Program Director, CCP, Lorain County Community College
Brandi Olberding
Assistant Dean of Workforce Development & Work-Based Learning, Edison State Community College
Brooke Owen
Academic Department Chair, Stark State College
Sarah Preston
Assistant Professor, Lakeland Community College
Stacey Raymond
Chairperson, Department of Applied Sciences and Human Services, Columbus State Community College
Maddie Robinson
College Credit Plus Admissions Advisor, Northwest State Community College
Connie Sheykhany
Professor and Chair, Lakeland Community College
Reti Shutina
Chair, Business Technologies, Owens Community College
Amanda Snider
Assistant Director of Advising and Retention, Central Ohio Technical College
Shamuire Spivey
Associate Dean, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Cuyahoga Community College
Amanda Stilgenbauer
Director of Student Success, Washington State College of Ohio
Tara Sword
Director of CCP, Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
Kristy Taylor
Registrar, Marion Technical College
Eric Veigel
Dean of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement, Central Ohio Technical College
Jeffrey Wallace
Professor of English, Southern State Community College
Leah Wells
Associate Professor of Nursing, Edison State Community College
Laura Whetstone
Assistant Vice President, Human Resources, Clark State College
James Young-Nastally
HR Generalist, Rhodes State College
Prior Cohorts:
- Cohort 1: July 2019 to September 2020
- Cohort 2: July 2021 to June 2022
- Cohort 3: July 2022 to June 2023
- Cohort 4: July 2023 to June 2024
- Cohort 5: July 2024 to June 2025
Impact:
- 100% college participation
- Network of almost 200 program alumni
- A third of alumni have received job promotions since program participation and 1 out of 5 have moved into a cabinet level position
- 60% of alumni have been asked to take on additional responsibilities in their current role since program participation
- Replicating program in AZ, MI, NY, TX, and WA
Pathways Projects:
Goal is for fellows to gain a deeper knowledge on a particular topic and apply the leadership skills gained through the Academy to the problem, issue, or challenge. The topics are centered around a guided pathways practice area or enabling condition and should relate to issues Fellows are working on at their home institution with broader applicability than any one college.