Ross Enrolls in Emerging Leaders Program

Written By: Rachel Putman

Kendall Ross, Associate Vice Chancellor for Economic and Workforce Development at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, has been named to the 2026 cohort of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ Emerging Leaders Program.

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities announced the newest cohort June 23, welcoming 45 rising academic and administrative professionals.

“I was honored to be part of AASCU’s Emerging Leaders Program,” Ross said. “The experience gave me the opportunity to learn from colleagues across the country, gain a broader perspective on leadership in public higher education, and bring back ideas to help strengthen our work at UAFS and better serve our students and region.”

For more than a decade, ELP has supported the development of mid-senior career higher education professionals by equipping them with the skills and perspective needed to take on expanded leadership responsibilities. Participants explore key topics, including strategic communication, project management, organizational change, and the development of a personal leadership approach.

“This program reflects a strong commitment to developing the next generation of higher education leadership,” said Kristin G. Esterberg, chancellor of the University of Washington Bothell and ELP executive sponsor. “We’re excited to support these professionals as they strengthen their capabilities, broaden their networks, and contribute to the future of their institutions and the students they serve.”

Each cohort member undertakes a campus-based project or initiative, working closely with a mentor and receiving guidance from an adviser. Through both structured and informal opportunities to learn from one another, the group will build relationships with mentors, faculty, and members of the broader AASCU network.

The program begins today with an in-person seminar in Washington, D.C., followed by a series of interactive virtual sessions held throughout the year.

View the full 2026 cohort here.

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities is a Washington, D.C.-based higher education association that represents the sector of more than 500 regional public colleges, universities, and systems whose members share a learning- and teaching-centered culture, a historic commitment to serving today’s students, and a dedication to research and creativity that advances their regions’ economic progress and cultural development. These are institutions delivering America’s promise.