For Immediate Release
June 17, 2025
Fredericksburg, VA—Dr. Nanette Graham, Associate Vice President for Health Sciences at Germanna, has been selected as one of just 40 leaders nationwide for the prestigious 2025–26 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship, part of the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program.
Chosen from over 120 applicants, fellows are emerging community college leaders who will spend the next year working with top college presidents and experts. They’ll use research-backed strategies to strengthen student success, equity, and post-graduation outcomes at their institutions.
With many current presidents expected to retire in the coming decade, the fellowship prepares the next generation of leaders to take on that challenge—representing a diverse mix of colleges from 19 states, including both rural and urban communities.
“Dr. Graham is an outstanding leader whose commitment to student success has made a lasting impact at Germanna,” says Dr. Janet Gullickson, president of Germanna Community College. “Being selected for the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship is a well-deserved honor and a testament to her dedication to advancing opportunity in higher education.”
“Excellent colleges are led by presidents who focus on what really matters—ensuring students are prepared for life after college,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the College Excellence Program. “This group is deeply committed to that mission, and we’re excited to support their growth.”
Fellows are selected based on their dedication to student success and their potential to lead a college within the next five years. They join a network of over 430 leaders—nearly 200 of whom are already serving as presidents—who are working to improve outcomes for community college students nationwide.
The Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship is supported by the Burton Family Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, College Futures Foundation, and the Mellon Foundation.
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About Germanna Community College
Established in 1970 as part of the Virginia Community College System, we are a comprehensive community college providing quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities for the residents of the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, Culpeper, King George, Madison, Orange, Spotsylvania and Stafford and for online learners everywhere.
About the 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.
Media Contacts:
William Berry (Germanna)
Director of Marketing and Recruitment
(540) 834-1019
wberry@germanna.edu
Kristin O’Keefe (Aspen Institute)
(240) 351-8531
kristin.okeefe@aspeninstitute.org