top of page

About
Us

Core Philosophy​​​

Community colleges are at the heart of educational opportunity and workforce development. Strong leadership ensures they continue to thrive and meet the evolving needs of students and communities. Every community college leader is both a steward of education and an agent of change. 

​

Leadership is a practice continuously developed through collaboration, reflection, and action. CCLA equips professionals with the tools, strategies, and confidence to lead with influence and impact, emphasizing strengths-based leadership, creative problem solving, adaptability, and courage to lead transformation. 

​

At its heart, CCLA is built on three pillars:

  1. Leadership Growth – Developing leaders who are self-aware, resilient, and confident in guiding themselves and others through both stability and change.

  2. Strategic Perspective – Cultivating systems-level thinking to address current issues and trends that impact community college leaders and their teams, including financial pressures, enrollment dynamics, technology shifts, and the evolving needs of students and communities.

  3. Applied Practice – Translating theory into action through simulations, case scenarios, problem-solving projects, and mentorship that reflect real-world challenges for leaders throughout community colleges.​

Tall Buildings
Office Team Meeting
Purpose and Intent


The purpose of CCLA is to strengthen leadership capacity at all levels – emerging leaders, mid-level managers, and aspiring executives—by fostering abilities to help leaders thrive.

 

Specifically, the Academy seeks to:

  • Prepare future leaders to step confidently into roles of greater responsibility.

  • Support success by equipping leaders with the tools to align vision with execution.

  • Expand the leadership pipeline for positions such as deans, directors, vice presidents, and presidents.

  • Build networks that encourage collaboration across colleges and regions.

Learning Experience
Participants in CCLA engage in:

  • Interactive Seminars – Covering leadership strengths and styles; communication and interpersonal skills; team development and change management; strategic thinking and decision making; and resilience, adaptability, and engagement.

  • Insight-Based Assessments – Gathering data to help participants see themselves more clearly, connecting the dots between strengths, behaviors, practices, and the outcomes they produce. 

  • Mentorship and Coaching  – Pairing participants with a facilitator coach and self-selected mentor for ongoing guidance, perspective, and support. 

  • Applied Projects – Tackling case studies and scenarios rooted in real challenges facing leaders and community college leadership.

  • Tailored Development Plan – Creating opportunities to foster growth, skill building, and reflection for deepening leadership as a practice. 

  • Networking Forums – Building lasting connections with peers across institutions.

Expected Outcomes
Graduates of CCLA will be able to:

  • Lead with confidence and clarity in diverse institutional settings.

  • Strengthen leadership, management, and communication skills.

  • Demonstrate strong decision-making and problem-solving practices.

  • Communicate effectively across stakeholders—faculty, staff, and external partners.

  • Guide teams through change management and strategic initiatives.

  • Expand professional networks with peers and mentors.

  • Position themselves as candidates for higher levels of leadership responsibility.

BOARD MEMBERS

bottom of page