One of 25 Community College Leaders Selected for a Fellowship Focused on Improving Access, Completion, and Post-Grad Success for Students
October 22, 2024 – Stone Ridge, NY – Today, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program (Aspen) announced that Alison Buckley, Ed.D., President at SUNY Ulster, is one of 25 innovative leaders selected from across the country to participate in the second cohort of the Aspen Presidents Fellowship, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase. The fellows will engage in a unique year-long professional development experience that will help them refine and enact a reform agenda to help more of their students succeed both during and after college.
“Community colleges educate millions of diverse students every year who are relying on them to deliver the education and credentials they need for a fulfilling life and career,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the College Excellence Program. “I am delighted that these 25 accomplished presidents have committed to strengthening their institutions’ strategies to ensure that more students achieve those aims. “
Through the year-long program, fellows will work with highly accomplished community college presidents, Aspen leaders, and each other to analyze their college’s outcomes and develop concrete plans inspired by field-leading practices. They will engage in a curriculum that will include exemplars from the field, data reports on available good jobs and student outcomes in completion and transfer, and qualitative reports about how well their current practices are aligned to what research reveals has led other colleges to high and equitable levels of student success.
This second cohort of Aspen Presidents Fellows reflects our country’s diverse talent: 52 percent are women and 44 percent are people of color. They join a network of 375 fellowship alumni, 176 of whom are community college presidents today. Aspen connects and supports this growing network of community college reform leaders with opportunities for targeted professional development, research briefings, and convenings at national conferences.
“I am honored to represent SUNY Ulster as I work with 25 community college Presidents across the United States in the ASPEN Institute’s Presidents Fellowship Program this year,” said SUNY Ulster President, Alison Buckley, Ed.D. “During my career, I have championed the imperative agenda to ensure that every community college student has the resources needed to be successful. Participating in ASPEN’s program will support SUNY Ulster’s commitment to college completion and the long-term economic success of our graduates. Community college graduates are more likely to be fully employed in jobs with a family-sustaining wage. SUNY Ulster is well-positioned to continue as a key driver of economic mobility as we educate the individual and elevate the community.”
“The SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees congratulates President Alison Buckley on her appointment to the ASPEN Presidents Fellowship and applaud her steadfast commitment to student success, completion, and economic mobility. We know Dr. Buckley’s participation in this program will benefit our students and reverberate throughout our entire academic community, positively impacting individuals accessing higher education at SUNY Ulster,” added SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees Chair, Deborah Briggs.
The Presidents Fellowship is made possible with philanthropic support from JPMorgan Chase through the firm’s New Skills at Work initiative, which aims to prepare young people for the future of work and meet the growing demand for skilled workers, and JPMorgan Chase’s $30 billion commitment to advancing racial equity and driving an inclusive economy.
Bios and photos of the Aspen Presidents Fellows are available on the Aspen Institute Website .
For more information, contact Jenn Zell and Kristin O’Keefe
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SUNY Ulster is a two-year college of the State University of New York. Offering more than 60 programs that prepare students for professional excellence, SUNY Ulster is known for its commitment to academic rigor, student support, and an engaging community. Ulster students graduate prepared to thrive whether transferring to a four-year institution or entering the workforce.
The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program aims to strengthen higher education leadership and practice to improve student outcomes—with the ultimate goal of advancing economic mobility and developing talent for the good of all people and society as a whole. For more information on our latest findings, research, and news, visit our website, subscribe to our newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and X.
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. For more information, visit The Aspen Institute.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $3.7 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average,
JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of customers in the United States and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Visit the JPMorgan Chase & Co. website for more information.
One of 25 Community College Leaders Selected for a Fellowship Focused on 
