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Professor Tatiana Melendez-Rhodes is one of 36 educators in the country to be selected for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Emerging Leaders Program.
Dr. Melendez-Rhodes, a Simsbury resident, is an associate professor and program coordinator of the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Central. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist, a Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and AAMFT Approved Supervisor. She is also a clinical psychologist in her native country of Peru. She earned the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, which allowed her to pursue graduate studies in the United States.
“Dr. Melendez-Rhodes is a natural fit for the leadership program, and it was my pleasure to nominate her for the new cohort,” says Central President Zulma R. Toro. “She is well-known among her peers at Central and beyond as a passionate educator, mentor, researcher, and practitioner, and her students benefit greatly from her extensive clinical experience.”
Created in 2015, AASCU’s leadership development program prepares early to mid-career academic and administrative leaders to take on administrative roles with greater responsibility and oversight. Over the next six months, the 2022 cohort will explore a range of leadership topics during an in-person retreat, monthly virtual workshops, and small-group sessions. Topics will include equity and social justice leadership, navigating and leading through change, finance and administration, enrollment management, student affairs, and more. Also, each member of the ELP cohort will demonstrate their leadership skills to their campus community by leading an on-campus project or initiative.
“The diverse and motivated campus leaders in the ELP class of 2022 reflect the strength and value of what happens when the AASCU network comes together,” said Dr. Charles L. Welch, president of the Arkansas State University System, former chair of the AASCU Board of Directors, and ELP coordinator. “We are looking forward to lively discussions and insightful learning experiences that will inspire and equip participants to shape our institutions to promote inclusivity, equity, and student success.”