Diana Dowling, Dr. Karen Palmer chosen for ACCLA Leadership Academy

Prescott, Arizona  – Two Yavapai College educators have been selected to the Arizona Community Colleges Leadership Academy and will participate in a statewide forum on student success this fall.

Enrollment-Management Associate Vice President Diana Dowling and English Professor Dr. Karen Palmer will join a coalition of faculty, staff and administrators selected from community colleges across Arizona. Chosen for their leadership skills and commitment to student achievement, Dowling and Dr. Palmer will participate in ACCLA’s first forum, The Essential Roles of Leadership in Student Success, Sept. 25 – 26 at Gateway Community College, 275. N. Gateway Avenue, in Phoenix.

Sponsored by the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program, the National Center for Inquiry & Improvement (NCII), the Arizona Community College Coordinating Council (AC4), and the Arizona Center for Community College Success, the Arizona Community College Leadership Academy seeks to maintain and improve the effectiveness of community colleges through partnership, consultation and innovation as they train our next generation of leaders.

Both Yavapai College fellows have distinguished themselves as advocates for student achievement. With a bachelor’s degree in English, a masters in Rhetoric and Composition and PhDs in Women’s Studies and Curriculum & Instruction, Dr. Palmer helped pioneer the Open Educational Resource movement at Yavapai College, authoring five books that empower students to take classes without purchasing expensive textbooks.

As Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management at Yavapai College, Diana Dowling leads initiatives that expand access to higher education and support student success. She has worked in higher education for 17 years, holds a master’s degree in educational leadership, and is committed to creating pathways that help students seamlessly transition into college and the workforce.

The Gateway College Conference is one of six events the Academy will hold over the next year, addressing future topics that include: Designing data-informed student success strategies; Advancing equitable labor market and transfer outcomes; Leading teaching, learning, and holistic support; and Building strong teams and managing change

Yavapai College operates seven campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers over one hundred degrees and certificates, four baccalaureate degrees, student and community services, and cultural events and activities. To learn more about YC, visit www.yc.edu.