September 16, 2026 AACC’s new Student Stories Bank is now live! A resource designed to help journalists and policy makers better understand our students, we encourage you to submit your stories to feature on our website. Please share with your public affairs team so that we can better educate decision-makers about what our students need. […]
Leading Through Change: Policy, Partnerships and the Future of Work, September 2, 2026
September 2, 2026 I hope the fall semester is starting off smoothly for everyone. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) continues to monitor institutions’ implementation of reporting requirements under the “Financial Value Transparency/GE” and Student Tuition and Transparency System. For any questions on this topic, or challenges with compliance, please participate in ED’s virtual “Office […]
Ready for What’s Next: Leadership, Workforce and a New Academic Year, August 19, 2026
August 19, 2026 I wish you all the best over the next couple of weeks as you welcome new, talented students to your colleges. I hope the inspiration they bring overcomes the many tasks that always accompany the start of a busy semester. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) last week released a new […]
Focus Forward, August 5, 2026
August 5, 2026 I am grateful for the AACC Board of Directors, who are in Washington, DC, this week, engaging with our staff and hearing about the progress being made towards the association’s goals. Board members play an essential role in carrying messages about your colleges’ needs and aspirations, and I encourage you to communicate […]
Focus Forward, July 22, 2026
July 22, 2026 Congratulations to Metropolitan Community College in Nebraska, which has had four Workforce Pell programs approved by the governor only one week into the launch: pharmacy tech, phlebotomy, CompTIA, and commercial driver’s license. To add your college’s progress on Workforce Pell, please take 1 minute to respond to three brief questions here. We […]
Focus Forward, July 8, 2026
July 8, 2026 Raising the profile of our colleges nationally is one of my top priorities. I am grateful to Inside Higer Ed for interviewing me at length and producing this robust article on our sector in today’s issue. I hope each of you sees your purpose and aspirations captured in this piece. The […]
Focus Forward, June 24, 2026
June 24, 2026 The AACC Strategic Compass is being used in exciting ways: to inform new strategic plans or revamp existing ones; as a retreat tool with senior staff or in special workshops; in meetings with chambers of commerce, workforce development boards, or other external groups. As I travel to different colleges, I am learning […]
Focus Forward, June 10, 2026
June 10, 2026 Even the arrival of summer has not slowed activity in Washington, DC. People are on the move and legislative wrangling continues. Dr. Casey Sacks will replace Nick Moore as acting assistant secretary of career, technical, and adult education at the Department of Education (ED). As a former West Virginia community college president […]
Focus Forward, May 27, 2026
May 27, 2026 My commencement address last week at Prairie State College in Illinois was a full-circle moment for me. Speaking at the institution where my aunt and two cousins earned credentials to open an in-home childcare business was a vivid reminder of how our colleges transform lives. Seeing another proud, empowered group of students […]
Focus Forward, April 29, 2026
April 29, 2026 As we close out Community College Month, I continue to be inspired by the feedback on the AACC Strategic Compass 2035. This is a special presidents’ and chancellors’ portal where you can comment directly on the Strategic Compass 2035 through May 7 by using the tabs in the document. Also fueling my […]