The Aspiring Presidents Institute (API) is a highly selective, immersive program designed to identify and support outstanding senior leaders as they prepare for community college presidencies across our state. Developed by the Belk Center, in close partnership with the North Carolina Association of Community College Presidents, API ensures that the pipeline of executive leaders in North Carolina remains strong, versatile, and deeply committed to student success.

North Carolina’s community college presidents and executive leaders are uniquely positioned to influence and sustain systemic change efforts that drive student success. Because their leadership impacts not only their campuses but also local economies and families, the Belk Center supports the entire executive lifecycle – from aspiring candidates to seasoned veterans.

API runs in alternate years with the Belk Center’s New Presidents Orientation, ensuring continuous, seamless professional development for North Carolina’s community college leaders at every stage of their executive journey. 

“Perhaps most important of all, these aspiring presidents are no strangers to our state. Whether homegrown as products of the North Carolina Community College System or longtime servants of our state’s community colleges, these leaders have given their lives and careers to addressing complex issues across the state’s educational landscape.” — Audrey J. Jaeger, executive director, Belk Center

Building Critical Presidential Skills

Nominated by their current college presidents, API participants are already highly accomplished senior executives. The institute builds upon their existing operational expertise by exposing them to the distinct, broad-scale responsibilities of system leadership.

Statewide Governance and Policy: Exposing future executives to the complex realities of system leadership and the overarching responsibilities required to manage issues across the state’s educational landscape.

External Stakeholder Engagement: Cultivating vital networks with sitting presidents and other system leaders while gaining strategic exposure to the importance of decision-making alongside external partners.

Institutional Transformation: Sharpening the executive capabilities necessary to champion student success, expand workforce preparation and drive economic mobility with the ultimate goal of transforming lives and strengthening regions.

Community Vibrancy: Equipping future leaders to cultivate community vibrancy by building strategic partnerships with employers and civic stakeholders, positioning them to drive regional economic growth and serve as central pillars of the communities they serve.

Presidential Mentorship: Ensuring participants gain firsthand knowledge of the day-to-day realities of the role through a dedicated relationship with a sitting presidential executive.

“I am eager to apply all that I have learned about student success and organizational effectiveness to expand and improve student learning in order to transform lives and contribute to a thriving, diverse community. When someone does work that they love doing, when they flourish in their profession, amazing and miraculous things can happen. That’s what I want to bring to a presidency, and that’s how I want to inspire those who work with me.” – Dr. Constance Wolfe, executive vice president of programs, Blue Ridge Community College

For questions about the Aspiring Presidents Institute, please contact Monica Clark, Ed.D., Deputy Director for the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research at [email protected].