YOUR PATH TO STRONGER COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEADERSHIP 

facilitated by Jill Bennett and Dan Baum

What does it look like to be a strong community college leader? Marcom and PR pros play a pivotal role in communicating the power of our institutions to transform lives, elevate individuals and families, and even increase generational wealth. NCMPR’s Leadership Institute will help members become better leaders – at any level, from any position – to profoundly impact others’ lives.

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

Members of this cohort will meet for the first time this July in Chicago, where they'll participate in two full days of coursework. They'll attend five online sessions over the following nine months and have the opportunity to participate in coaching sessions with the institute’s facilitators and meet with NCMPR leadership mentors.

The program culminates in a final in-person session at the 2027 NCMPR National Conference (March 17-19, 2027), where cohort members will present on their leadership successes and highlight concepts and skills explored throughout the institute.

Leadership Institute participants will work on outcomes in three areas:

1. Individual development (July summer workshop), including recognizing the core values that influence your decisions and actions; identifying what holds you back; and polishing up your presentation skills.
2. Team dynamics (September, October and November online sessions), which includes learning to work with folks, from creatives to marcom pros, and hold them accountable; how to ID problems within and without marcom departments; and time and resource management.
3. Organizational context (January and February online sessions), including increased awareness of differing personalities and leadership styles outside marcom and PR; knowing when and how to manage up and across a college; and expanding your network.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 

Eligible participants must have worked at least one full year (as of April 2026) in the marketing and communications field at a two-year community or technical college. Ideally, participants will have some supervision and management experience, though this isn't a strict requirement. Experience outside of a community college is also welcome. Most importantly, we are looking for participants who have demonstrated a commitment to personal and leadership growth, collaboration and innovation.

The deadline to apply is June 1, 2026.

APPLY TODAY

Applicants must be NCMPR members and employed by an NCMPR member organization. Not a member? Join NCMPR.

ESTIMATED TUITION AND FEES: $3,500

Estimated tuition and fees are expected to cover registration and meals for the summer workshop, online sessions, coaching and mentoring sessions, coursework materials, and registration for the national conference.

Final program tuition and fees may be adjusted based on final cohort size and are not expected to exceed $3,500.

Travel and lodging costs for the summer workshop and national conference are not included and are the responsibility of participants.

SUMMER WORKSHOP TRAVEL

The summer workshop will take place July 16 and 17 with a two-day summer workshop at the Swissôtel Chicago, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days. Please make your reservations to arrive Wednesday, July 15 by 5 p.m., and depart Saturday, July 18.

You will need to book your accommodations at the Swissôtel Chicago. The discounted room rate is $249/night, plus tax. A link will be provided to participants soon. You can also extend your stay with this group rate for three days before or after the Leadership Institute, based on room availability. 

For your travel requests, the meals included in the summer workshop are Thursday breakfast, Thursday lunch, Friday breakfast and Friday lunch. Dinners on Thursday and Friday are on your own. 

SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarships are available. Each district will be able to award up to one participant a partial scholarship with a value of up to $1,250. Interested applicants will need to complete a Leadership Institute application and answer questions about how a scholarship would impact their participation in the program.  

WHO ARE THE FACILITATORS?

This year’s Leadership Institute will be facilitated by Jill Bennett and Dan Baum, long-time NCMPR members from Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) in Maryland.

Jill is AACC’s director of marketing and public relations, and she is an International Coaching Federation (ICF) certified life and leadership coach. Since establishing Jill Bennett Coaching in 2019, Jill has provided leadership training and coaching to executives and mid-level managers within the government, higher education, and small businesses, including AACC and Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

Dan is AACC’s executive director of strategic communications and a certified IFC life coach. He teaches part-time in AACC’s life coaching program, the only ICF-accredited program offered at a community college. He has provided training for numerous community colleges, K-12 school districts, and local non-profits, most recently serving as a senior consultant and coach for Learning Forward, the largest organization providing training for K-12 schools nationwide.