Lamar Community College Announces Participation of Three College Staff in the AAC&U New Leadership Academy Fellows Program

LCC is proud to announce that three members of its campus community, Dorothy Choat, Financial Aid Director, Dr. Morgan Clark, Director of Nursing & Allied Health Ed. Programs, and Dr. Zach Sands, Humanities Faculty, have been selected to join the prestigious New Leadership Academy (NLA) Fellows Program, a six-month national leadership development initiative hosted by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U).

The NLA Fellows Program is designed to equip experienced higher education professionals with the tools, knowledge, and confidence necessary to navigate the evolving complexities of today’s academic landscape. Grounded in the belief that a strong sense of belonging is foundational for students, faculty, and staff alike, the program serves as both a leadership model and an applied learning environment for emerging and established leaders.

“Lamar Community College is deeply committed to growing and investing in local leadership that reflects the strengths and needs of our region,” said Dr. Rosana Reyes, President of Lamar Community College. “The selection of Dorothy Choat, Dr. Morgan Clark, and Dr. Zach Sands for the AAC&U New Leadership Academy Fellows Program affirms our belief that leadership development is essential to institutional and community vitality. By cultivating leaders from within, we are strengthening our capacity to advance student success, foster belonging, and drive meaningful, sustainable impact for Southeast Colorado.”

Over the course of the program, participants engage in immersive leadership development experiences, including real-world case studies, small-group facilitation, personalized coaching, and mentorship from nationally recognized experts. The curriculum draws from leading research in organizational and leadership theory, reframing leadership as a set of learnable, practice-based skills. Through both virtual and in-person sessions, participants gain strategies and networks that empower them to drive transformative changes within their institutions. The NLA Fellows Program includes a core curriculum, with additional specialized tracks offered in areas such as health sciences, STEM faculty development, and rural institutions. Through this model, the program helps institutions cultivate and grow leaders who can address emerging challenges and champion academic excellence.

In addition, LCC President Dr. Rosana Reyes has been invited by AAC&U to serve as a featured panelist at its Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. this month, where she will present alongside three other college presidents on a national panel “From Designation to Design: Cultivating Leaders in Rural HSIs”. This invitation underscores Lamar Community College’s commitment to supporting leadership development and advancing access and student success across post-secondary institutions.

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