Dr. Michael D. Anthony of Prairie State College Selected for the Aspen Institute’s New Presidents Fellowship [08/22/2022]
Chicago Heights, Ill, August 22, 2022 – The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program (Aspen) announced today that Michael D. Anthony, Ph.D., President at Prairie State College, is one of 26 leaders selected for the 2022-23 class of the Aspen New Presidents Fellowship. This program, made possible with support from JPMorgan Chase, supports community college presidents in the early years of their tenure as they work to achieve higher and more equitable levels of student success.
“Dr. Anthony is a pioneer in his own right, being the first Black president at Prairie State College and the youngest to serve in his role,” said Dr. Ronald J. White, Chairman of the Prairie State College Board of Trustees. “As president, he is instrumental in advancing our institution in ways that will positively impact PSC for years to come. We are tremendously proud and appreciative of his sound leadership.”
This class of fellows represents the diversity of our nation’s community colleges, collectively serving over 250,000 students at colleges across the nation, in urban, suburban, and rural areas. The incoming class of New Presidents Fellows is 46 percent female, and 65 percent are people of color. Located in 19 states, their institutions are diverse, from a tribal college with fewer than 300 students to an urban college that educates more than 35,000 yearly.
The fellows, selected through a competitive process, will work closely with other transformational community college presidents and Aspen leaders over nine months. They will learn from field-leading research, analyze their colleges’ student outcomes, and clarify their visions for excellent and equitable outcomes for students in college and after graduation.
“The quality of our nation’s community colleges depends on the quality of our college presidents,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the College Excellence Program. “I am continually inspired and motivated by the dedication and expertise that our fellows bring to the work of advancing excellence and equity on their campuses, and I look forward to seeing the changes they make in real-time to improve outcomes for their students.”
JPMorgan Chase’s philanthropic support for the Aspen Presidential Fellowship is part of the firm’s New Skills at Work initiative to prepare young people for the future of work and meet the growing demand for skilled workers and the $30 billion commitment to advance racial equity and drive an inclusive economy.
For bios and photos of all 26 leaders, visit https://highered.aspeninstitute.org/meet-the-new-presidents-fellows/.
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Prairie State College proudly serves Community College District 515 and is a hub of excellence, offering associate degrees, technical and career certificates, and workforce development and community education programs. Prairie State College is the first Illinois community college to guarantee all credits will transfer to other Illinois colleges and universities, an assurance that has grown through the Illinois Articulation Initiative. We hold true to our vision to offer rigorous academic programs, meet the needs of the local workforce, cultivate the values of sustainability, and demonstrate an awareness of its responsibilities in a global society. We strive to provide opportunities for our students to start near, go far, and thrive. For more information, visit prairiestate.edu and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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. Learn more at www.aspeninstitute.org.