PVCC Leaders Selected for the Aspen Institute’s Rising Presidents Fellowship

Charlottesville, Va. – June 3, 2026 – Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) leaders Dr. Leonda Williams Keniston and Dr. Scott Jefferies have been named Aspen Rising President Fellows. Williams Keniston is the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development and Jefferies serves as Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services at PVCC. Williams Keniston and Jefferies are each one of 40 outstanding leaders from across the country for the 2026-27 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship. Chosen from a competitive pool of more than 125 applicants, the 40 executive and senior community college leaders were chosen for their potential to enact major reforms that deliver much stronger results for students.

Over 15 years, Aspen’s research on high-performing community colleges has consistently shown that high and improving levels of student success are much more likely when an exceptional president is leading the community college. For that reason, Aspen has been working for a decade to help prepare a new generation of transformational community college leaders through this program. 

Over the coming year, these fellows will: 

• Deeply examine data on available jobs in their community and student outcomes at their colleges 
• Learn about transformational models from 15 years of Aspen Prize research into colleges with high and improving levels of student success through the Aspen Prize process
• Receive coaching and feedback from accomplished college leaders, including sitting and retired presidents who have led transformational reforms 
• Devise a concept for major reform strategy at their institution, receiving critical feedback from peers and experts along the way 

“Our research shows that excellent colleges share a common trait: they are led by presidents who focus on a few transformative initiatives that extend beyond enrollment and even completion numbers, centering instead on whether graduates are prepared for transfer and bachelor’s attainment and success in the workforce or further education,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “I cannot wait to begin working with this impressive set of leaders.”   

PVCC President Dr. Jean Runyon shared, “We are incredibly proud of these two outstanding leaders. Their selection to the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship reflects both their deep commitment to student success and their capacity to lead with vision and purpose. This recognition highlights the critical importance of developing the next generation of community college presidents. Their participation will have a lasting impact on PVCC and the communities we serve.”

Rising Presidents Fellows are chosen based on their commitment to improving student success and advancing economic mobility, their readiness to lead major student-success reforms, and the likelihood that they will assume a college presidency within five years of completing the program. The selected fellows come from 20 states and a wide range of institutions—from small rural colleges to large urban campuses—bringing diverse perspectives and experiences to the fellowship. They join a vibrant network of over 500 peers—including over 215 sitting presidents—who are leading colleges that help more students finish college, transfer to four-year institutions, and secure good jobs. 

The Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship is made possible through the generous support of the Burton Family Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, College Futures Foundation, Mellon Foundation, and the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research at NC State University.

For bios and photos of all 40 leaders, visit as.pn/risingpresidents.  

Aspen Institute

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

About Piedmont Virginia Community College

Established in 1972, Piedmont Virginia Community College is a nonresidential two-year institution of higher education that serves Central Virginia – principally, residents of the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson. PVCC is committed to providing access to a college education for all who can benefit, an opportunity for each student to reach her/his potential, and excellence in all programs and services. The main campus is in Albemarle County, Virginia. Classes are also offered at the PVCC Eugene Giuseppe Center in Stanardsville, Va. (Greene County) and the PVCC Jefferson School Center in downtown Charlottesville. Visit pvcc.edu.

PVCC does not discriminate based on age, color, disability, family medical history or genetic information, military service, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), sexual orientation or any other non-merit-based factor. Visit pvcc.edu/nondiscrimination to learn more.