In the summer of 2019, the Success Center launched the Leadership Academy for Student Success, a leadership development cohort program for mid-level faculty, staff, and administrators (below the vice president level) with clear leadership potential and interest in advancing within the college and the field.
The modularized curriculum of the OACC Leadership Academy has been developed in partnership with the National Center for Inquiry & Improvement (NCII) and OACC leadership and is divided into six sessions by topic area. The content for this program draws heavily on the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program Curriculum, is aligned with the strategic priorities of Ohio community colleges, and builds on the continued efforts to implement guided pathways.
Curriculum
Session 1
The Essential Roles of Leadership in Student Success
- Defining Student Success
- Understanding Ohio's Community Colleges and their Students
- Advocating for Ohio's Community Colleges
Session 2
Keeping Students' End Goals in Mind
- Improving Labor Market Outcomes
- Improving Transfer at Scale
Session 3
The Student Experience
- Improving Teaching and Learning
- Designing Holistic Student Supports
Session 4
Leadership Traits to Drive Change
- Designing Transformational Leadership Qualities for Student Success
- Centering Student Needs as a Core Component of Leadership
Session 5
Institutional Capacities to Advance Reform
- Leading Finance Strategically to Advance Reforms
- Leading Strong Teams for Transformational Change
Session 6
Strategic External Partnerships and the Leadership Journey
- Leading Highly Effective External Strategic Partnerships
- Scaling and Improving Dual Enrollment Partnerships
- Reflecting on Your Personal Leadership Journey
Cohort 7: September 2026 to June 2027
Kristen Bancroft
Assistant Professor, Clark State College
Nora Beerline
Assistant Dean, Technology and Liberal Studies, Rhodes State College
Josh Blake
Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Zane State College
Myra Bozeman
Dean of Liberal Arts, Communication, and Social Sciences Division, Sinclair Community College
Shari Brooks
Director of Student Leadership and Engagement, Stark State College
Rachel Brooks-Pannell
Assistant Dean, Arts and Humanities, Columbus State Community College
Kristi Butler
Director of Career Services, Marion Technical College
Carmen Castro-Rivera
Dean of Academic Success, Cuyahoga Community College
Beth Chimento
Associate Dean of Nursing, Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
Christina Cook
Transfer Specialist, Sinclair Community College
Genesis Downey
Humanities Faculty & Honors Program Director, Owens Community College
Jessica Edwards
Director of The Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, & Innovation, Edison State Community College
Jim Farmer
Director of Enrollment Management, Southern State Community College
Alexus Fountain
Student Success Coach, Zane State College
Brandy Frias
Director of Admissions and Recruitment, Central Ohio Technical College
Heather Good
Assistant Professor, Clark State College
Matt Gosses
Science Faculty & Faculty Fellow, Owens Community College
Laura Irmer
Assistant Dean, Liberal Arts, North Central State College
Mike Jacobs
Career and Activities Coordinator, Northwest State Community College
Paige Kiley
Director of Financial Aid, Edison State Community College
Brittany King
Web & Digital Manager, Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
Daniel Knaus
Associate Vice President of Finance & Operations, Washington State College of Ohio
Karla Knepper
Director of Academic Advising/Chief of Advising & Student Retention, Sinclair Community College
Allisun Lauthers
Psychology Faculty, Marion Technical College
Joshua Longo
Benefits Manager, Lorain County Community College
Jessica Mautz
Director of Financial Planning & Analysis, Central Ohio Technical College
Leslie Melton
Senior Director of Advising, Career Services, and New Student Onboarding, Columbus State Community College
Marcie Moore
Dean of Technical Studies, Central Ohio Technical College
Julio Moreno
Assistant Director, Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Columbus State Community College
Teara Pierce
Director of Development, Donor Engagement, & Community Relations, Zane State College
Jennifer Redford
Bursar, Stark State College
Jason Rickenberg
Dean - Business & Public Services, Northwest State Community College
Jenni Schemmel
Controller, Edison State Community College
Julie Senita
Nursing Program Administrator, Lakeland Community College
Lorrie Spivey
Director of Student Affairs and Chief Judicial Officer, Sinclair Community College
Nora Stickney
Assistant Provost, Lakeland Community College
Duane Stutzman
Dean of Allied Health & Public Service, Zane State College
Dana Swackhamer
Learning Services and Accessibility Coordinator, Southern State Community College
Jonathan Tarnai
Assistant Dean, Learning Commons & Academic Support Services, Cuyahoga Community College
Courtney Tenhover
Manager of Training Projects, Lorain County Community College
Brandy Theis
Director, Youth and Community Programming, Rhodes State College
Mellanie Toles
Chief of Staff and Coordinator of Board Operations, Clark State College
Jason Tucker
Assistant Dean, Health Sciences, North Central State College
Jared Voldness
Director of Engineering & Business, Washington State College of Ohio
Patricia Youmans
Dean, Academic Affairs, Belmont College
Prior Cohorts
- Cohort 1: July 2019 to September 2020
- Cohort 2: July 2021 to June 2022
- Cohort 3: July 2022 to June 2023
- Cohort 4: July 2023 to June 2024
- Cohort 5: July 2024 to June 2025
- Cohort 6: July 2025 to June 2026
Impact
- 100% college participation
- Network of 230+ program alumni
- A third of alumni have received job promotions since program participation and 1 out of 5 have moved into a cabinet level position
- 60% of alumni have been asked to take on additional responsibilities in their current role since program participation
- Replicating program in AZ, MI, NY, TX, and WA
Pathways Projects
Goal is for fellows to gain a deeper knowledge on a particular topic and apply the leadership skills gained through the Academy to the problem, issue, or challenge. The topics are centered around a guided pathways practice area or enabling condition and should relate to issues Fellows are working on at their home institution with broader applicability than any one college.