Columbus State President David Harrison Chosen for the Aspen Institute’s Presidents Fellowship

Campus News | Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Fellowship recognizes Dr. Harrison’s national leadership, bringing together 25 high-impact U.S. community college presidents to focus on improving student success

Columbus State Community College President David Harrison has been selected for the Aspen Institute’s prestigious fellowship program for community college presidents, which focuses on student success.

Harrison and 24 other community college presidents from throughout the United States will spend the next year in a professional development experience focused on innovative practices to help more students succeed. 

“This opportunity is a direct reflection of the great work the Columbus State team does for our students and our community every day,” said Columbus State President Harrison.

“I look forward to working with and learning from my fellow presidents and the great Aspen team to help students from all backgrounds achieve their goals and make a difference in their communities.”

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program’s Aspen Presidents Fellowship is sponsored by JPMorgan Chase’s New Skills at Work initiative. Columbus State is a longtime recipient of support from the New Skills at Work program to enhance workforce readiness for in-demand careers.

“Community colleges educate millions of diverse students every year who are relying on them to deliver the education and credentials they need for a fulfilling life and career,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the College Excellence Program. “I am delighted that these 25 accomplished presidents have committed to strengthening their institutions’ strategies to ensure that more students achieve those aims.”

President Harrison has been Columbus State’s president for 14 years, guiding the college to national recognition as a student success and workforce development leader. Columbus State is Ohio’s largest community college, with more than 40,000 students per year, and the most diverse higher education institution within the central Ohio region. Under Harrison’s leadership, the college received the Leah Meyer Austin Award from Achieving the Dream because of its success in narrowing equity gaps.

Harrison is a national leader in higher education and preparing students for the workforce. He is a member of the advisory boards of the National Science Foundation’s Directorate of STEM Education, has participated in numerous White House convenings to address workforce priorities and is a past member of the Board of Directors of the American Association for Community Colleges. 

The Presidents Fellowship is made possible with philanthropic support from JPMorgan Chase through the firm’s New Skills at Work initiative, which aims to prepare young people for the future of work and meet the growing demand for skilled workers, and JPMorgan Chase’s $30 billion commitment to advancing racial equity and driving an inclusive economy. 

Columbus State has a long history of engagement with the Aspen Institute and the New Skills at Work initiative. 

President Harrison was featured in the Aspen Institute’s publication The Workforce Playbook: A Community College Guide to Delivering Excellent Career and Technical Education, and Columbus State partnered with Aspen to produce the State of Play Central Ohio report on the state of access to youth sports in Franklin County. Several college leaders have been fellows in a fellowship program for aspiring presidents.

The college is currently participating in the New Skills Ready Network, leveraging grant funding to increase K-12 interest in educational programs leading to in-demand careers in engineering technology, healthcare, information technology and logistics. Prior gifts have supported Columbus State graduate access and entry into IT careers, and intensive data gathering toward the college-convened Central Ohio Compact to increase postsecondary credential attainment in the region. 

About Columbus State
Serving more than 40,000 students annually, Columbus State is the largest community college in Ohio. The college has been nationally recognized for advancements in student success and workforce innovation, including the prestigious Leah Meyer Austin Award. Among other collaborations to enhance student success and career opportunities, Columbus State convenes the Workforce Advisory Council, comprised of the chief talent officers of the largest employers in the region; co-facilitates the Central Ohio Compact, an alliance of leaders from K-12, higher education, employers, and social service groups focused on student achievement; and partners with four-year universities to offer debt-free pathways to bachelor’s degrees. Learn more at www.cscc.edu.

About Aspen
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 all people and society as a whole. For more information on our latest findings, research, and news, visit our website, subscribe to our newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

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. For more information, visit 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.                                            

 

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