Haverhill, MA (May 27, 2026) – Today, the Aspen Institute announced that Northern Essex Community College Vice President of Institutional Advancement & Workforce and Academic Innovation Allison Dolan-Wilson is one of 40 outstanding leaders from across the country for the 2026-27 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship. Dolan-Wilson, who is also the Executive Director of the NECC Foundation, was chosen from a competitive pool of more than 125 applicants. The 40 fellows include executive and senior community college leaders who were chosen for their potential to enact major reforms that deliver much stronger results for students.
“Dr. Dolan-Wilson has consistently demonstrated the energy, creativity, and drive to build out programming that supports lifelong learning,” said President Lane A. Glenn. “Creativity is often exponential, and so I am eager to see Dr. Dolan-Wilson work with peers who share her energy and further develop her skills.”
Over 15 years, Aspen’s research on high-performing community colleges has consistently shown that high and improving levels of student success are much more likely when an exceptional president is leading the community college. For that reason, Aspen has been working for a decade to help prepare a new generation of transformational community college leaders through this program.
Over the coming year, these fellows will:
- Deeply examine data on available jobs in their community and student outcomes at their colleges
- Learn about transformational models from 15 years of Aspen Prize research into colleges with high and improving levels of student success through the Aspen Prize process
- Receive coaching and feedback from accomplished college leaders, including sitting and retired presidents who have led transformational reforms
- Devise a concept for major reform strategy at their institution, receiving critical feedback from peers and experts along the way
“Our research shows that excellent colleges share a common trait: they are led by presidents who focus on a few transformative initiatives that extend beyond enrollment and even completion numbers, centering instead on whether graduates are prepared for transfer and bachelor’s attainment and success in the workforce or further education,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “I cannot wait to begin working with this impressive set of leaders.”
Rising Presidents Fellows are chosen based on their commitment to improving student success and advancing economic mobility, their readiness to lead major student-success reforms, and the likelihood that they will assume a college presidency within five years of completing the program. The selected fellows come from 20 states and a wide range of institutions—from small rural colleges to large urban campuses—bringing diverse perspectives and experiences to the fellowship. They join a vibrant network of over 500 peers—including over 215 sitting presidents—who are leading colleges that help more students finish college, transfer to four-year institutions, and secure good jobs.
The Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship is made possible through the generous support of the Burton Family Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, College Futures Foundation, Mellon Foundation, and the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research at NC State University.
For bios and photos of all 40 leaders, visit as.pn/risingpresidents.
