CCRI’s Hughes awarded Aspen Presidential Fellowship

MEGHAN HUGHES, Community College of Rhode Island president, is one of 40 leaders to be awarded the inaugural Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence. / COURTESY R.I. OFFICE OF THE POSTSECONDARY COMMISSIONER
MEGHAN HUGHES, Community College of Rhode Island president, is one of 40 leaders to be awarded the inaugural Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence. / COURTESY R.I. OFFICE OF THE POSTSECONDARY COMMISSIONER

WARWICK – The Aspen Institute this week named Meghan Hughes, Community College of Rhode Island president, one of 40 leaders to be awarded the inaugural Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence.

The fellowship, a highly selective year-long program, looks to improve outcomes for community college students by preparing recently appointed community college presidents, and aspiring executives, for the rigors of a college presidency.

Those recognized represent 17 states and 30 community colleges.

Hughes, the sole Rhode Island representative, who said she is “committed to delivering significantly better outcomes” for her students, was selected for her investment in CCRI students, willingness to take strategic risks and strength as a leader.

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“I am honored to have been selected and excited for the opportunity to partner with mission-driven peers nationally to share best practices as we work together with the common goal of helping our students succeed,” she said.

The Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence is awarded by Aspen Institute, a Washington D.C.-based education and policy studies nonprofit organization.

Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program, is impressed by the diversity of talent represented by the inaugural class.

“This class of remarkable fellows will expand the talent pipeline to the presidency at a time of dramatic presidential turnover and urgent need to improve student outcomes. These individuals are deeply committed to making a difference – they are eager to take bold action to help more students, especially those facing the greatest odds, earn credentials that reflect rigorous learning and lead to well-paying jobs,” he said in a statement.

The Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence is funded by the Carnegie Corp. of New York, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, ECMC Foundation, Greater Texas Foundation, the Joyce Foundation and the Kresge Foundation.
According to a press release from the Aspen Institute, community colleges enroll more than 7 million degree-seeking students, including rapidly growing numbers of minority, low-income and first-generation students.

As New England’s largest community college, CCRI has campuses in Warwick, Lincoln, Providence and Newport and operates satellites in Westerly and in the Shepard Building in Providence. On average the school enrolls more than 16,000 students annually in credit courses in addition to thousands more in noncredit and workforce training programs.

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