By Marielle Argueza

Two CSUMB leaders have been accepted into two highly competitive American Association of State Colleges and Universities leadership programs. 

Earning her seat at the table at AASCU’s Emerging Leaders Program is Dr. Cathi Draper Rodríguez, chair of the Department of Education and Leadership, coordinator and professor of MS School Psychology Program and director of the MAESTROs Project. 

“This experience will provide me with opportunities to explore different areas of higher education leadership and fully understand new roles that are possible for me,” Draper Rodríguez said.

She’s hoping to hone her skills in the areas of data analytics, finance, academic affairs leadership, and equitable allocation of time and resources. 

Katherine A. Kantardjieff, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, was selected as one of 22 provosts for the 2021-22 cohort of the AASCU’s Student Success Institute. 

“I am deeply honored to have been selected to participate in this national cohort of provosts and represent CSUMB in this vital conversation in higher education,” Kantardjieff said. “It will give me time to learn, engage with the latest research, and enable me to do more as a leader.” 

Through the Student Success Institute, she plans to deepen her understanding of successful student practices.

“Student success is a key contributor to a more equitable society, transforming the lives of students and their families. Provosts are charged with overseeing the academic enterprise of an institution,” she said. 

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) is a Washington, D.C.-based higher education association of nearly 400 public colleges, universities, and systems. It focuses on learning- and teaching-centered culture, underserved student populations, and a dedication to research and creativity that advances their regions’ economic progress and cultural development.