The intent of this 9-month long engagement program is to help the member institutions of the Kansas Independent College Association strengthen our “bench” of future leaders for our academic departments and staff divisions. The Academy is the outgrowth of several years of conversation among our presidents and provosts about the need for a high-quality leadership training opportunity targeted for smaller private colleges like ours. Moreover, all of us had identified a gap in the existing programs: while there were multiple programs for those interested in becoming provosts and/or presidents, there were few such programs focused on the other tiers of the organizational hierarchy – the division/department heads and deans. Thus, we’ve developed the KICA Aspiring Campus Leadership Academy to fill the void.

The Academy consists of a Two-Day Intensive Retreat, followed by Intensive in-person Workshops and 9 different Online webinars disseminating tangible leadership skills. Curriculum surrounds budgeting within the broader institutional framework, using data effectively, hiring and evaluation tools, program prioritization, work-life balance, advocacy, and 13 other key higher education issues.

Our 5th cohort kicked off their year on August 5 & 6th in Topeka, KS. We'll be sharing their triumphs along the way. 

The 2025-2026 Aspiring Leaders Academy is being made possible by our curriculum partner Credo, and by generous partner sponsors.

Past Academy Graduates: Where are they Now

• Damon Kraft is now Provost at Kansas Wesleyan University
• D’sjon Thomas, D.C. is now Assistant Dean of Clinical Education at Cleveland University-Kansas City
  
• Enrique Nicola Barreiro is now a Professor in Business and Sports Science, Student-Athlete and Athletic Oversight Committee Chair, AND the Men’s Soccer Coach for Central Christian College of Kansas
• Jackson Lashier, is now Associate Professor of Religion and Division Chair, Social Sciences, Southwestern College
• Jill Gonzalez-Bravo is now the Department Chair for the School of Education for MidAmerica Nazarene University
• Jordan Mantha is now Associate Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness and Chief Data Officer at MidAmerica Nazarene University
• Lisa Stoothoff is now Chief Operating Officer of Donnelly College
• Lisa Wallentine is now a Professor of Business, the Institutional Review Board Chair AND the Faculty Communications Committee Chair for MidAmerica Nazarene
• Mark Hayse is now Director of the Mabee Library at MidAmerica Nazarene University
• Mary L. Pflanz, Ph.D. is now Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs at Donnelly College
• Megan Kershner is now Dean of Employment Experiences at Bethel College
• Nichole Pendleton is now an Associate Professor of Accounting for Friends University
• Preston Todd is now Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success at Friends University
• Rebecca Culver-Turner is now Co-Chair of the MFT Division and Program Director for the MSFT Program at Friends University
• Ryan Huschka is now the Division Chair of Science and Mathematics here at Newman University