Vice Provost Chosen for Prestigious Academy
Cal State San Marcos Vice Provost Mary Oling-Sisay was among 36 higher education leaders selected to participate in the prestigious Executive Leadership Academy (ELA).
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), and the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI) collaborate to offer ELA participants unparalleled learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. The ELA kicked off the year-long program with an in-person seminar June 16-17 in Washington, D.C.
The ELA has a highly selective application process, and the program prepares experienced provosts and vice presidents as the next generation of college and university presidents. The CIC and AASCU each selected 18 leaders from member institutions to ensure representation from both independent and state-supported colleges and universities.
“I'm humbled to have been selected,” Oling-Sisay said. “The ELA enables a deeper dive into higher education leadership with distinguished colleagues from around the nation alongside leading experts. I look forward to sharing and applying what I learn to enhance the great work underway here at CSUSM.”
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 those moving into presidential and senior executive roles 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,” CIC President Marjorie Hass said. “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.”
Some 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, D.C.
Oling-Sisay was one of two people from California selected along with Ben Corpus, the vice president of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs at Cal State Monterey Bay.
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