Dr. Marcus Ward, senior vice president of institutional advancement and executive director of the ASU Foundation, Inc., recently completed the AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance in Higher Education.
He was among 19 fellows from colleges and universities around the country graduating in the sixth cohort.
“More and more, we recognize that choosing to pursue the office of the president is a calling,” said AGB Search Managing Principal & CEO and institute co-founder Dr. Rod McDavis. “The AGB Institute offers the opportunity to create a different style of presidential leadership to pursue that calling, and we congratulate the Class of 2024-2025 for all of their hard work and dedication during the program.”
The AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance is a rigorous six-month program composed of two symposia, four online workshops and a shadowing experience with a sitting president. The institute features more than 30 higher education expert presenters including current and former presidents, trustees, search consultants and other sector professionals.
“Participating in the AGB Institute for Leadership and Governance has been an invaluable personal and professional growth experience for me. The incredible training and information received from the program has thoroughly deepened my understanding of the role of boards and governance, stakeholder engagement, and the critical importance of strategic leadership in institutional success. I am grateful to our Alcorn State University leadership for the opportunity to learn from esteemed higher education leaders and fellow participants, and I look forward to applying these insights to further strengthen our mission and impact for the future.”
The AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance was founded in 2019 to prepare aspiring presidents to successfully attain and serve in the top leadership position. To date, 138 leaders have completed the program, and 24 have become presidents or chancellors.
The American Council on Education’s 2023 American College President Study shows that the average tenure of college presidents is decreasing. Colleges and universities are faced with a dearth of qualified leaders to meet the demands of the higher education sector. The institute aims to provide support to higher education leaders by fortifying participants with mentorship and peer networks as participants undergo their leadership journey together.
“The office of the president is very different than it was a decade ago, and a fundamental recognition is that the leadership tools of the past are not the same that will work in the future,” said Jason Lane, co-director of the institute. “Now more than ever, our higher education leaders need support and training to be able to make difficult decisions and strategically guide their institutions through times of transformation.”
To learn more about the institute, visit www.leadandgovern.com.
The graduates of the Class of 2024-2025 (Cohort 6) were:
Dr. Brian Bridges
Secretary of Higher Education
New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education
Dr. Ivey L. Brown
Chief Legal Counsel
Winston-Salem State University
Dr. Andrew J. Butler
Dean of the School of Health Professions
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Dr. Taffye Benson Clayton
Associate Provost and Vice President for Inclusion & Diversity
Auburn University
Dr. Jack DeRochi
Dean of Graduate, Continuing, & Online Education
Winthrop University
Dr. Savitri Dixson-Saxon
Vice Provost for Institutional Effectiveness, Engagement, and Academic Performance
Walden University
Dr. Stacy L. Downing
Chief Administrator of DSU Downtown, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives
Delaware State University
Dr. Vernon J. Hurte
Senior Vice President for Student Affairs & University Life
Towson University
Dr. Brian T. Kench
Dean of the Pompea College of Business
University of New Haven
Dr. Jeffrey W. McClurken
Vice President of Strategy, Chief of Staff to the President
University of Mary Washington
Dr. Altaf Merchant
Endowed Dean of the Milgard School of Business
University of Washington, Tacoma
Dr. Corey Phelps
John & Karen Arnold Dean and Professor of Strategy at the Smeal College of Business
Pennsylvania State University
Dr. Jason Rivera
Vice Provost for Student Success, Dean of University College
Ball State University
Dr. Shadow J.Q. Robinson
Provost & Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
University of Arkansas Fort Smith
Dr. Monica M. Smith
Vice President, Inclusion & Belonging
University of Richmond
Dr. Melissa Canady Wargo
Chief of Staff
Western Carolina University
Dr. Amber S. Williams
Vice Provost for Student Success
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Dr. Timothy Winders
Assistant Vice President, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Vice Chancellor of Information Services
Purdue University Northwest
