The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program announced today that Long Beach City College (LBCC) Superintendent-President Dr. Mike Muñoz has been selected is one of 23 community college presidents selected to participate in the third cohort of the Aspen Presidents Fellowship, a unique year-long professional development experience supported by JPMorganChase. During the program, presidents will develop a reform agenda that helps more of their students graduate into good jobs, either directly after community college or following transfer and bachelor’s degree attainment. 

“Dr. Muñoz’s selection for the Aspen Presidents Fellowship is a tremendous honor for Long Beach City College and a reflection of the transformative change happening across our institution,” said Uduak-Joe Ntuk, LBCC Board of Trustees President. “While this recognition highlights his visionary leadership, it also speaks to the collective commitment of our faculty, staff, and board who are advancing student success, equity, and economic mobility at a national level. I personally couldn’t be prouder of him and the impact he continues to make at LBCC and beyond.”

“I am honored to join this distinguished group of leaders and to work with colleagues from across the country,” said Muñoz. “This fellowship creates an opportunity to rethink how we support our students and strengthen pathways to economic mobility. I look forward to bringing new ideas back to LBCC and contributing to national efforts focused on student success and workforce opportunity.”

Through the year-long program, fellows will work with highly accomplished community college presidents, Aspen leaders, and each other to analyze local labor markets, their colleges’ outcomes, national models of excellence, and lessons from highly successful presidents. The reform agendas they draft are then pressure-tested during multi-day residential sessions, multiple webinars, and feedback from peers and experts.

“We know from 15 years of intensive research how the best community colleges equip students with the skills and credentials that lead to good jobs and flourishing lives,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the College Excellence Program. “These 23 presidents have committed to strengthening their institutions so those outcomes become the norm for every student.” 

This third cohort of Aspen Presidents Fellows represents community college leaders serving students and communities across the country. The fellows lead institutions in 14 states, spanning rural communities, suburban regions, and urban centers. They represent colleges with a wide range of missions—from comprehensive and technical institutions to tribal-serving colleges. They join a growing network of 433 fellowship alumni, including 202 community college presidents, committed to strengthening student success and economic mobility in their communities. Aspen supports this network of community college reform leaders through targeted professional development, research briefings, and convenings at national conferences.

Muñoz has served as LBCC’s superintendent-president since 2001, leading efforts to expand student support services, strengthen workforce partnerships, and advance equity-focused initiatives that improve outcomes for the college’s diverse student population.

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program supports college leaders through research, leadership development, and data-informed practices. Participation will further Long Beach City College’s efforts to address equity gaps and expand access to meaningful career pathways.

MEDIA CONTACT

Kristin O’Keefe,
Aspen Institute
kristin.okeefe@aspeninstitute.org