Gerardo Ochoa, assistant dean for diversity and community partnerships at Linfield College, was one of 30 administrators in higher education nationwide selected to participate in the Counsel of Independent College’s 2016-2017 Senior Leadership Academy.
The academy is designed to prepare prospective leaders to assume positions as the chief officers in any division, including academic affairs, student affairs, finance, enrollment management and advancement, in independent higher education.
“Oregon’s demographics are rapidly changing; this change has shifted the demographic makeup of our students,” Ochoa said. “I feel honored to be invited to the Senior Leadership Academy to learn with experienced professionals and enhance my leadership skills to help facilitate the challenges associated with change.”
Ochoa earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a minor in Latin American history at the University of Oregon, and received his Ed.M. in higher education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He has worked at Linfield since 2004. Ochoa has extensive experience developing culture-specific strategies to empower students to afford higher education and he is committed to serving underrepresented students.
“The Senior Leadership Academy is an exceptional opportunity to gain skills alongside other academic leaders and like-minded peers,” said Susan Agre-Kippenhan, vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty. “Not only will it benefit Gerardo professionally, but he will be able to provide even greater resources for Linfield College.”
Individuals chosen for the year-long program are administrators or faculty leaders in higher education who have been identified by their institutions as having potential for senior leadership positions. Ochoa will attend an opening seminar in New Orleans, La. in November 2016, and a closing seminar in Washington, D.C. in June 2017. He will also participate in a mentoring program, work with experts in various aspects of higher education administration, participate in webinars, engage in a series of readings and case studies during the academic year and follow a professional experiential plan to fill the gaps needed for career advancement.
The Academy is co-sponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI). Tom Kepple, president of AALI and president emeritus of Juniata College (PA), is the program director.
