September 21, 2021 3:40 a.m.

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program has announced that Umpqua Community College President Rachel Pokrandt is one of 25 leaders selected for the 2021-22 class of Aspen New Presidents Fellowship.

A UCC release said the program supports community college presidents in the early years of their tenure as they aim to achieve higher and more equitable levels of student success. The Fellowship’s philanthropic partner is JPMorgan Chase.

The 25 Aspen Fellows, who lead colleges that collectively serve more than 280,000 students, were selected through a highly competitive process. Starting later this year, the Fellows will engage over nine months in residential sessions and virtual learning to develop strategies to meet their goals for student success and equity with data to assess challenges and progress.

Pokrandt said, “Douglas County deserves the very best access to post-secondary education in order to support a thriving and vibrant community. I am dedicated to using this opportunity to bring back the very best ideas and innovation to everything that we do at UCC”.

More information about the program and those selected is linked: https://highered.aspeninstitute.org/meet-the-new-presidents-fellows/