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Kresge announces newest fellows for Thrive Leaders Network that supports BIPOC education execs

Education

A quote graphic with a photo, name and title of Aditi Goel, Founder, P16 Partners and the text: Thrive Leaders Network | "If we truly value leadership excellence as well as sector sustainability, we have to invest in programs like this that fuel and foster a leader's ability to thrive."

Christine Jacobs

Now in its third year, the Thrive Leaders Network has announced its newest cohort of fellows.

The Thrive Leaders Network – composed of Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) higher education and postsecondary nonprofit executives – provides these grantee partners with financial grant support and flexible leadership enrichment resources to support their sustainability and growth as sector leaders. This network seeks to build the capacity of BIPOC leaders in the higher education sector and their organizations to carry out their missions in service of low-income and underrepresented students.

This effort is jointly funded by The Kresge Foundation’s Education Program and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The program provides unrestricted stipends to support the leadership and wellbeing of each of the fellows for one year. Cohort members lead all types of organizations, from direct services nonprofits to think tanks to organizations focused on improving equity in higher education.

Participating leaders can opt to use their stipends in ways they determine best support their leadership and well-being and participate in a cohort-based learning series to build community, strengthen skills and help navigate the challenges and opportunities of leading college access and success organizations during challenging times. Opportunities also include virtual programming, in-person gatherings and communications tools to foster community and fuel sharing of best practices. Funds can also be used to subsidize wellness and travel to professional development conferences and trainings.

“In order to expand access and success for underrepresented student populations in our colleges and universities, we must provide the necessary tools and opportunities for professional development for our BIPOC higher education leaders and innovators,” said Ashley Johnson-Varner, program officer with Kresge’s Education Program. “The higher education sector finds itself at an important crossroads – we must prepare leaders in the postsecondary space for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. It is also vital for higher education leaders to have the space and time to connect with one another and share best practices and create helpful networks of like-minded professionals.”

“It is striking to hear how isolated and lonely so many leaders feel prior to joining the Thrive Leaders Network” said Aditi Goel, facilitator of the Thrive Leaders Network. “And it is equally remarkable to witness how the support from Kresge and Gates, the community of peers with similar lived and learned experiences, and the opportunities to gather to learn and share questions, ideas and practices is a personal and professional gamechanger. If we truly value leadership excellence as well as sector leader sustainability, we have to invest in programs like this that fuel and foster a leader’s ability to thrive.”

In August 2022, Kresge’s Education Program announced the launch of the Thrive Leaders Network with a $500,000 grant to kickstart the effort. Today, there are currently 60 members in total who are part of this professional network.

This year, 16 individuals were added to the network. The following postsecondary education sector leaders have joined the third cohort of the Thrive Leaders Network include:

 

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