One of 26 Leaders Selected for Prestigious Program Developing the Next Generation of Community College Leaders
CONTACT: Austin Calhoun, 651.846.1361 |
austin.calhoun@saintpaul.edu & Anne Larkin, 208.596.5886 |
anne.larkin@aspeninstitute.org
Saint Paul, Minn. - August 22, 2022 – The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program (Aspen) announced today that
Deidra “Dee Dee” Peaslee, EdD, president at Saint Paul 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.
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 too are diverse, from a tribal college with fewer than 300 students to an urban college that educates more than 35,000 each year.
The fellows, selected through a competitive process, will work closely with other transformational community college presidents and Aspen leaders over nine months to learn from field-leading research, analyze their colleges’ student outcomes, and clarify their visions for excellent and equitable outcomes for students while in college and after they graduate.
"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."
"I am excited to collaborate with the Aspen Institute and community college leaders from across the country in identifying and implementing strategies to create and sustain learning environments that support all students in succeeding,” said Peaslee. “This work is critical to Saint Paul College as we launch a new strategic plan informed by our new mission statement, Grounded in equity and inclusion, Saint Paul College educates and empowers students to lead purposeful lives and discover rewarding careers."
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.
Saint Paul College, a comprehensive community and technical college, is part of the Minnesota State system, which includes 30 colleges and seven universities. Located in Minnesota’s Capital City of Saint Paul, the College offers 54 associate degree programs and 74 career certificate and diploma programs. Founded in 1910, Saint Paul College is the oldest college in the Minnesota State System. With 65% of the student body identifying as students of color, it is also the most diverse school in the state.
The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program supports colleges and universities in their quest to achieve a higher standard of excellence, delivering credentials that unlock life-changing careers and strengthen our economy, society, and democracy. We know it takes visionary college leaders to achieve this higher standard and we make it our mission to equip them with the knowledge, skills, and research-backed tools to inspire change, shift practice, and advance the capacity of colleges to deliver excellent and equitable student outcomes. For more information, visit
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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.
About JPMorgan Chase
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. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at
www.jpmorganchase.com.
