together to develop innovative solutions, such as community
partnerships, entrepreneurial ventures, educational collaborations, and alliances with business and industry. Refocused college missions and goals have become more clearly delineated
to directly address the critical programming that supports
basic skills education, vocational and technical career tracks,
and transfer coursework. These challenges provide opportunities for those SSAOs who are prepared for broad campus
leadership to help in leading in new directions. They can
create multi-year plans to consolidate services to achieve cost
efficiencies, review and evaluate program effectiveness, and be
integrally involved in cabinet leadership decisions and allocation of resources.
Leadership Skills for the Future
To lead in constantly changing times, internationally recognized futurist Rick Smyre cites the need for transformational
leadership skills with the ability to create new knowledge
by identifying connections and patterns between totally
disparate ideas and factors. In 2006, Barbara Viniar and
Martha Stettinius of the Institute for Community College
Development edited a report, titled “The Entrepreneurial
President,” which describes the executive leadership skills
required to build and sustain a culture of innovation and
transformation that takes advantage of the community college’s greatest strength—its ideal position for change in meeting community workforce and economic challenges.
The AACC has identified core competencies for community
college leaders that include organizational strategy, communication, resource management, collaboration, community college advocacy, and professionalism. These competencies offer
SSAOs a framework for refining or developing the leadership
skills and attributes needed to resolve current and future challenges and prepare for career opportunities.
The NASPA Community College Division offers institutes
and other professional development opportunities at regional
and national conferences and other venues to prepare SSAOs
for senior leadership positions. Additionally, the inaugural Community College Executive Leadership Experience
(CCELE) will take place just prior to the 2011 NASPA
Annual Conference. CCELE is a selective executive leadership
program for SSAOs that will address many of the challenges
outlined in this article and others. To learn more, visit www.
naspa.org/programs/ccele. To provide your input and ideas,
contact Stephanie Gordon at sgordon@naspa.org. LE
Magdalena H. de la Teja is vice president for student development services at Tarrant County College, Northeast Campus, in Ft. Worth, Texas.
Paulette Dalpes is dean of student affairs at Kingsborough Community
College in Brooklyn, N. Y.
Denise Swett is associate vice president at Foothill College, Middlefield
Campus and Community Programs, in Palo Alto, Calif.
Edward Shenk is associate professor and program director at Alliant
International University in San Francisco, Calif.
