Beth Concepción, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Linfield University, has been named to the Executive Leadership Academy (ELA) for 2025-26.
This year’s prestigious ELA kicked off last month to prepare seasoned leaders for their next senior administrative role in higher education. The first of two in-person seminars in the yearlong program ran June 16–17 in Washington, DC. Programming was led by current and former college presidents along with experts in critical areas pertinent to higher education.
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI) collaborate on this program. The ELA offers participants unparalleled learning, mentoring and networking opportunities.
A total of 36 higher education leaders take part in the program that prepares experienced provosts and vice presidents as the next generation of college and university presidents. These participants rose to the top among a competitive pool of applicants. Each organization selected 18 leaders from member institutions to ensure representation from both independent and state-supported colleges and universities.
Concepción has been at Linfield since July 2023. As provost and vice president for academic affairs, Concepción oversees the academic branch of the university. This includes the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Nursing and Online and Continuing Education. Other offices reporting to her include academic advising, institutional research, international programs, the Linfield University Libraries, the Center for Wine Education, competitive scholarships, the Lacroute Initiative and Learning Support Services.
Concepción, who has had a storied academic and journalism career, also serves as a professor in Linfield’s Department of Journalism and Media Studies.
Since its inception in 2009, over 100 individuals who have completed the ELA program have been appointed as presidents or chancellors of colleges and universities. The ELA program equips participants with the diverse skills necessary to navigate the ever-changing challenges of the higher educational landscape.
“At a time when working in higher education feels particularly challenging, the participants of the ELA program show how committed they are to the sector and their institutions,” said CIC President Marjorie Hass. “CIC is fortunate to partner with AALI and AASCU to provide this opportunity to leaders at our member institutions and prepare them for the challenges ahead.”
Key features of the ELA program consist of a tailored professional experience plan aimed at addressing the specific skill and experience gaps of each participant; mentorship provided by the participant’s current president alongside the ELA program director; guidance on the executive search process; and access to peer-led webinars, regional meetings, and cohort-wide activities. The ELA cohort will convene in June 2026 for a closing seminar in Washington, DC.
“In today’s higher education environment, it’s critical that future leaders are prepared, ready, and well-equipped to serve our growing student population and tackle the challenges that come with leading a college or university,” said AASCU President and CEO Charles L. Welch. “Together with CIC, and our partners at AALI, AASCU continues its commitment of providing senior executives with the wide-ranging skills and training they need to succeed.”
The ELA program welcomes applications from individuals holding cabinet-level roles at their institution. Nominations for the 2026–27 academic year begin in the fall.
View more information on the CIC program page.
