For immediate release: Central’s Dr. Joann Leon selected for national leadership program
CCSUNews
Central’s Dr. Joann Leon selected for national leadership program
CONTACT: 860-929-1177
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 10, 2026
New Britain, Conn. - Interim Associate Vice President for Campus and Community Engagement Dr. Joann Leon is among 45 members of the latest cohort selected for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Emerging Leaders Program (ELP).
Dr. Leon serves as the director of Central’s Center for Community Engagement and Social Research and co-chair of the university’s John Lewis Institute Advisory Board. Prior to her appointment as Associate Vice President for Campus and Community Engagement, she served as faculty chair of the Department of Social Work at Central. She is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of mental health experience.
For more than a decade, ELP has supported rising academic and administrative 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.
Each member of the ELP cohort undertakes a campus-based project or initiative, working closely with a mentor and receiving guidance from an adviser. Through 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 began on June 23 with a seminar in Washington, D.C., followed by a series of interactive virtual sessions held throughout the year.
“Dr. Leon's selection for the AASCU Emerging Leaders Program is a well-deserved recognition of her leadership, dedication, and commitment to advancing student success through meaningful campus and community engagement,” says Central Provost Dr. Kimberly Kostelis. “We are proud to see her representing our university among this outstanding cohort and look forward to the positive impact her participation will have on our institution and the communities we serve.”
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