Home Contra Costa County LMC Administrator Selected for Prestigious Aspen Institute Program

LMC Administrator Selected for Prestigious Aspen Institute Program

Press Release

by ECT

PITTSBURG, CA — The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program (Aspen) announced today that Dr. Tanisha M.J. Maxwell, Vice President of Student Services at Los Medanos College (LMC), is one of 31 leaders selected from across the country for the 2022-23 class of the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship.

This program, delivered in collaboration with the Stanford Educational Leadership Initiative, prepares community college leaders to transform institutions to achieve higher and more equitable levels of student success.

This incoming class of Aspen Presidential Fellows represents the next generation of college leadership: 70% of the cohort members are female, and 54% are people of color. The institutions they represent are also diverse, ranging from small rural colleges to large urban campuses located across 16 states. Over the 10-month program, the fellows – selected through a competitive application process – will work closely with highly accomplished community college presidents, Aspen leaders, and Stanford University faculty to: learn from field-leading research; define and assess student success at their colleges; and clarify their visions for excellent and equitable outcomes for students while in college and after they graduate.

“The leaders that come through the Rising Presidents Fellowship continually inspire us,” said Josh Wyner, Executive Director of the College Excellence Program. “We are motivated by the dedication and expertise that our fellows bring to advancing excellence and equity on their campuses, and we look forward to supporting their work.”

Rising Presidents Fellows join a network of over 300 forward-thinking peers – 122 of whom are sitting college presidents – who are applying grounded and innovative strategies to meet student success challenges in their respective colleges.

“I was pleased to support Dr. Maxwell’s application to become an Aspen Presidential Fellow, and congratulate her on her selection,” said Dr. Bob Kratochvil, President of Los Medanos College. “This program is recognized nationally for enhancing the skills of community college leaders. I know that her participation in the program will be valuable to her personal growth and professional achievements, and will contribute to the important work of Los Medanos College.”

The Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship is made possible by the generous support of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation College Futures Foundation, Joyce Foundation, and JPMorgan Chase.

Tanisha M.J. Maxwell: 2022-23 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellow

Dr. Tanisha M.J. Maxwell has over 20 years of experience in higher education, 18 years of Student Affairs higher education experience within the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD), 10 years of experience as residential faculty at Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC), and eight years of progressively responsible executive administrative leadership experience within multi-community college district systems. She is a first-generation college student, a product of both the California and Arizona community college systems, a licensed psychologist in the state of Arizona, and a Peer Corps reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission regional accrediting body. Her educational credentials include a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Arizona State University, an M.A. from the University of Missouri-Columbia in Counseling Psychology, and a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Arizona State University.

As the inaugural vice president of student services at Los Medanos College (LMC), Maxwell provides executive leadership as the Chief Student Services Officer. She is a tri-chair for the college’s Strategic Enrollment Management initiatives and leads the vaccination and COVID protocol vetting and approval processes for all LMC students receiving in-person instruction and/or services. Dr. Maxwell has engaged in over 20 years of commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives throughout her professional career.

Maxwell’s professional mission is to encourage learning, innovation, and collaboration designed to enhance professional development and morale while furthering the purpose of the institutional mission, vision, and core values in an effort to foster equitable student success both in and out of the classroom. She is an executive leader who is culturally competent, futuristic, innovative, strategic, collaborative and audacious in her unwavering commitment to equity, holistic student development, and transformational student success. She lives with her husband of 20 years and they are very proud of their two young adult sons. 

For bios and photos of all 31 leaders, visit: https://highered.aspeninstitute.org/meet-the-rising-presidents-fellows/.

Los Medanos College (LMC), one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District, has served the east Contra Costa County community since 1974.  LMC offers award-winning transfer and career education programs, high-quality support services, and diverse academic opportunities in an engaging and inclusive learning environment.  With exceptional educators, innovative curricula, growing degree and certificate offerings, strong regional partnerships, and state-of-the-art facilities, the College prepares students for success at four-year institutions, in the workforce, and beyond.  LMC offers classes and support services at its 120-acre Pittsburg Campus and new permanent Brentwood Center.  For more information about Los Medanos College, please visit www.losmedanos.edu.

 
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
our website and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

The Stanford Educational Leadership Initiative (SELI) advances the critical cause of diversity, equity and inclusion in learning science and postsecondary education leadership.  SELI’s research practice partnership with the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program has enabled faculty from the Stanford Graduate Schools of Education, Business and Engineering to host and prepare 200 Aspen Presidential Fellows to lead U.S. community colleges for student success in graduation and preparation for workforce advancement.  For more information, visit seli.stanford.edu.

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.

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