by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s chief information officer has been selected to attend a national conference designed to enhance strategic leadership and to network with other community college leaders throughout the country.
Baz Abouelenein, who holds a doctorate in organizational leadership, is among 34 other participants that were competitively selected to attend the 2016 Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) offered by the League for Innovation in the Community College. Sessions begin Dec. 11 in Paradise Valley, Ariz.
ELI applicants are expected to serve in senior leadership roles within a community college and be qualified for a presidency based on their educational accomplishments, commitment to social responsibility and professional experience. Abouelenein has been at KCKCC since 2005 and served as director of information systems prior to becoming CIO.
“When a leadership consultant shared with me that I should consider a path toward a college presidency, I knew that was a route for serious reflection,” Abouelenein said. “My family and particularly my father; as a superintendent, instilled the great value of education. I was raised with a passion for education and an understanding of its life changing effects. Now, as a father of twin daughters, I have a more profound need to improve educational opportunities.”
The League for Innovation in the Community College was created in 1968 and works to cultivate innovation in the community college environment through various seminars, institutes and workshops as well as publications. ELI is an intensive, five-day leadership institute that allows participants to “immerse themselves” in various sessions with topics ranging from Ethical Leadership and Leveraging Data in Strategic Planning to National Perspectives on Community College Issues. Participants will also have the opportunity to prepare for an interview team competition.
Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at Kansas City Kansas Community College.