UAFS vice chancellor selected for national leadership program

Kendall Ross, associate vice chancellor for economic and workforce development at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (UAFS), is one of 45 “rising academic and administrative professionals” selected for a national leadership program.

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities announced June 23 its newest class in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ Emerging Leaders Program (ELP). Ross is the only member of the new class from Arkansas.

“I was honored to be part of AASCU’s Emerging Leaders Program,” Ross said. “The experience gave me the opportunity to learn from colleagues across the country, gain a broader perspective on leadership in public higher education, and bring back ideas to help strengthen our work at UAFS and better serve our students and region.”

Ross said they began with an in-person conference June 23-24 in Washington D.C., and will have virtual meetings through the rest of the year.

“We talked a lot about clarifying personal values and our philosophies, and we really talked about leading with accountability,” Ross said of the in-person gathering. “We also talked a lot about how to prepare students to work in an AI-enabled environment, and about students having a cross-discipline understanding in technologies.”

The program, active for more than a decade, is designed to support “mid-senior career higher education professionals by equipping them with the skills and perspective needed to take on expanded leadership responsibilities,” according to at UAFS press release. Areas of focus include strategic communication, project management, organizational change, and the development of a personal leadership approach.

“This program reflects a strong commitment to developing the next generation of higher education leadership,” said Kristin sterberg, chancellor of the University of Washington Bothell and ELP executive sponsor. “We’re excited to support these professionals as they strengthen their capabilities, broaden their networks, and contribute to the future of their institutions and the students they serve.”

Also, each member of the class selects a campus-based project, and works with a mentor on the initiative. Ross, who also manages data collection and written analysis for The Compass Report produced by Talk Business & Politics, said class members are scheduled to conclude with a virtual meeting in January to talk about what they learned from the program.

“We’ll also give them feedback,” Ross said. “The program is always looking to learn from us (class members), you know, to make the program better.”

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities is a Washington, D.C.-based higher education association that represents the sector of more than 500 regional public colleges, universities, and systems whose members share a learning- and teaching-centered culture, a historic commitment to serving today’s students, and a dedication to research and creativity that advances their regions’ economic progress and cultural development. These are institutions delivering America’s promise.

Link here to see members of the newest ELP class.