COE Interim Dean to Participate in 2026 Emerging Leaders Program

COE Interim Dean to Participate in 2026 Emerging Leaders Program

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) named its newest cohort of the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP), selecting 45 rising academic and administrative professionals from across the nation. Among those selected is Abbie Strunc, interim dean of the College of Education (COE) at Sam Houston State University (SHSU).

For more than a decade, the ELP has supported the development of mid-senior career higher education 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.

“I am honored to be selected for AASCU’s Emerging Leaders Program and to learn alongside colleagues who share a commitment to serving public institutions of higher education,” said Strunc. “This opportunity will allow me to expand my leadership capacity, engage with new ideas and bring valuable strategies back to Sam Houston State University and the College of Education. I look forward to applying what I learn to advance collaborative, student-centered initiatives to best serve the faculty, staff, students and the communities we serve.”

Each cohort member undertakes a campus-based project or initiative, working closely with a mentor and receiving guidance from an adviser. Through both structured and informal opportunities to learn from one another, the group will build relationships with mentors, faculty and members of the broader AASCU network.

“This program reflects a strong commitment to developing the next generation of higher education leadership,” said Kristin G. Esterberg, chancellor, University of Washington Bothell, and ELP executive sponsor. “We’re excited to support these professionals as they strengthen their capabilities, broaden their networks and contribute to the future of their institutions and the students they serve.”

The program began in June with an in-person seminar in Washington, D.C., followed by a series of interactive virtual sessions held throughout the year.

View the full 2026 cohort.

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) is a Washington, D.C.-based higher education association that represents the sector of over 500 regional public colleges, universities, and systems whose members share a learning- and teaching-centered culture, a historic commitment to serving today’s students, and a dedication to research and creativity that advances their regions’ economic progress and cultural development. These are institutions delivering America’s promise.