The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program announced that Dr. Scott Newman, vice president of Academic Affairs at OSU Institute of Technology, is one of 40 leaders selected for the 2020-21 class of the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship.
"We're proud to have Dr. Newman represent OSUIT in such a prestigious fellowship," said. Dr. Bill Path, president of OSUIT. "This investment in personal growth will aid in his continued commitment to our students' success and the industry's evolving needs."
The fellowship is a highly selected leadership program preparing the next generation of community college presidents to transform institutions to achieve higher and more equitable levels of student success.
“The nominations from President Path and others to participate in the Aspen Institute program, and the George Kaiser Family Foundation’s support of my engagement in it, are incredibly humbling,” said Dr. Newman. “For me, the program represents an opportunity to grow as a leader and serve OSUIT and its stakeholders in new and better ways.”
The Rising Presidents Fellows will embark on a 10-month fellowship beginning in July 2020. 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. They 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.
“GKFF was pleased to support Dr. Newman’s nomination for the Rising Presidents Program,” said Josh Miller, of GKFF. “Dr. Newman has been instrumental in spearheading innovative OSUIT programs that respond and adapt to both industry and student needs. The Rising Presidents Program felt like a perfect fit to support his professional growth as a progressive leader for the future.”
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% of sitting presidents plan to retire in the next decade. While the traditional pathway to the presidency has excluded women and people of color, the incoming class of Aspen Rising Presidents Fellows is composed of 70% women and 61% people of color and represents institutions of varying sizes and locations.
Together, the 2020-21 fellows are leaders at colleges that collectively serve more than 500,000 students. As well, 42 Rising Presidents Fellowship alumni have become presidents of community colleges that collectively serve an additional 500,000 students nationwide.
OSU Institute of Technology is Oklahoma's only university of applied technology, offering accelerated bachelor of technology and associate degree programs that meet global workforce demands. OSUIT is known for its high academic standards, world-class laboratory environments, reciprocal partnerships with business and industry, and top career placement rates in the region. For more information about OSUIT, call 918.293.4680 or 1.800.722.4471, or visit the web at www.osuit.edu.
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just and equitable society. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most important challenges facing the United States and the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners.