Dr. Kathryn Rogalski of NWTC Chosen for National Presidential Fellowship for College Leaders

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40 Aspiring Community College Presidents Will Participate in 2021-2022 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship to Advance Student Success.

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program today announced that Dr. Kathryn Rogalski, vice president of learning at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, is one of 40 leaders selected for the 2021-22 class of the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship, a highly selective leadership program preparing the next generation of community college presidents to transform institutions to achieve higher and more equitable levels of student success.

The Rising Presidents Fellows will embark on the 10-month fellowship beginning in November 2021. Delivered in collaboration with the Stanford Educational Leadership Initiative, the fellows will be mentored by esteemed current and former community college presidents who have achieved exceptional outcomes for students throughout their careers and will learn strategies to improve student outcomes in and after college, lead internal change, and create strong external partnerships with K-12 schools, four-year colleges, employers, and other partners.

“To become institutions that truly advance social mobility and talent development, community colleges must have presidents with a clear vision for equitable student success,” said Monica Clark, director of leadership initiatives at the College Excellence Program. “We have selected these fellows because they share that commitment and are well-positioned to become transformational leaders.”

“Kathryn has been an exemplary member of our institution and community, and I look forward to watching her grow through this experience. We are proud to cultivate exceptional leaders at NWTC, and Kathryn embodies the vision and work ethic to propel student success,” said Dr. Jeff Rafn, NWTC president.

“It is an honor to be among this cohort of exceptional leaders across the nation who share the same commitment to equity, access, and success for community and technical college students,” said Dr. Kathryn Rogalski, NWTC vice president of learning. “I am grateful for the support of NWTC and look forward to applying my experience to our institution and beyond.”

The Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship responds to the growing need for a new generation of leaders well-equipped to meet the challenges of the future. Nationally, nearly 80 percent of sitting presidents plan to retire in the next decade. While the traditional pathway to the presidency has often excluded women and people of color, the incoming class of Aspen Rising Presidents Fellows is composed of 68 percent women and 70 percent people of color, and represents institutions of varying sizes and locations.

Together, the 2021-22 fellows are leaders at colleges that collectively serve more than 400,000 students. As well, 67 Rising Presidents Fellowship alumni have become presidents of community colleges that collectively serve an additional 953,000 students nationwide.