Dr. Schiffner is one of 23 community college leaders nationwide to be selected for a fellowship focused on developing talent and advancing economic mobility in their communities.
Today, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program (Aspen) announced that Dr. Carli Schiffner, President of Grays Harbor College, is one of 23 community college presidents selected to participate in the third cohort of the Aspen Presidents Fellowship, a unique year-long professional development experience supported by JPMorganChase. During the program, presidents will develop a reform agenda that helps more of their students graduate into good jobs, either directly after community college or following transfer and bachelor degree attainment.
“We know from 15 years of intensive research how the best community colleges equip students with the skills and credentials that lead to good jobs and flourishing lives,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the College Excellence Program. “These 23 presidents have committed to strengthening their institutions so those outcomes become the norm for every student.”
Through the year-long program, fellows will work with highly accomplished community college presidents, Aspen leaders, and each other to analyze local labor markets, their colleges’ outcomes, national models of excellence, and lessons from highly successful presidents. The reform agendas they draft are then pressure-tested during multi-day residential sessions, multiple webinars, and feedback from peers and experts.
This third cohort of Aspen Presidents Fellows represents community college leaders serving students and communities across the country. The fellows lead institutions in 14 states, spanning rural communities, suburban regions, and urban centers. They represent colleges with a wide range of missions—from comprehensive and technical institutions to tribal-serving colleges. They join a growing network of 433 fellowship alumni, including 202 community college presidents, committed to strengthening student success and economic mobility in their communities. Aspen supports this network of community college reform leaders through targeted professional development, research briefings, and convenings at national conferences.
“I am honored and humbled to be selected for the Aspen Institute Presidents Fellowship. Community colleges are essential sources of education, training, and hope for long-term economic resilience in the communities we serve. I look forward to working with leaders from across the country to sharpen our strategies, strengthen outcomes, and expand opportunities for students in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties,” said Dr. Schiffner.
Bios and photos of the Aspen Presidents Fellows are listed on the Aspen Institute’s website.
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 each individual and society as a whole.
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.