SUNY Oswego recognizes Nichole Brown and Murat Yaşar with honors
Nichole Brown, the director of both the clinical practice and partnerships office and the Teacher Opportunity Corps program at SUNY Oswego's College of Education, Health and Human Services, and Murat Yasar, deputy to the president for strategy, planning and special projects at SUNY Oswego, have been selected for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities' (AASCU) 2025-26 Emerging Leaders Program (ELP). This year's cohort, the largest in the program's 10-year history, comprises 37 academic and administrative professionals.
The AASCU ELP is a renowned national initiative designed to cultivate the next generation of higher education leaders. The program offers a combination of in-person and virtual training on key topics such as communication, project management, leading change, and developing a leadership philosophy. Each participant also leads a campus-based project, supported by a mentor and an AASCU project advisor, while benefiting from structured peer learning and networking opportunities throughout the year.
Brown's project involves integrating SUNY Oswego's Vision 4040 with the University-Assisted Schools model to establish STEM-focused hubs in underserved Central New York school districts. The initiative also supports My Brother's Keeper, a program focusing on the recruitment, retention, and mentorship of Black and Brown male students. Brown's project aligns with a Micron Technology grant for establishing the Oswego Regional Center for STEM Excellence.
Brown appreciates the opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented peers who share a passion for helping shape the future of the higher education landscape. She sees the program as offering space to reflect, grow, and refine her leadership style, with a focus on leading with integrity, courage, and a vision for systems change.
Murat Yasar's project is focused on the implementation of SUNY Oswego's strategic plan, "Transforming Lives, Igniting Possibilities," in its first year. Yasar's aim is to infuse strategic planning and goals into everyday activities and actions at SUNY Oswego. Yasar is especially looking forward to engaging with colleagues from across the country who are equally committed to the role of regional public universities in the US in terms of social mobility and student success.
The AASCU ELP is more than just a leadership development opportunity; it's an investment in the future of higher education to advance student success and institutional excellence. Participants like Brown and Yasar view the program as a meaningful opportunity to grow as leaders, reflect more deeply on the challenges and opportunities in higher education, and sharpen the skills needed to lead with vision and impact.
For precise information on the initiatives Nichole Brown and Murat Yasar will undertake at SUNY Oswego, you might consider contacting SUNY Oswego’s administration or AASCU directly for further details.
[1] American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Emerging Leaders Program. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://www.aascu.org/programs/emerging-leaders
[2] SUNY Oswego. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://www.oswego.edu/
- Nichole Brown's project, part of the AASCU Emerging Leaders Program, focuses on integrating SUNY Oswego's Vision 4040 with the University-Assisted Schools model, establishing STEM-focused hubs in underserved Central New York school districts, and aligning with the My Brother's Keeper program and a Micron Technology grant for the Oswego Regional Center for STEM Excellence, contributing to personal growth, education-and-self-development, and learning within the higher education landscape.
- Murat Yasar's project within the AASCU Emerging Leaders Program aims to implement SUNY Oswego's strategic plan, "Transforming Lives, Igniting Possibilities," in its first year, infusing strategic planning and goals into everyday activities and actions at SUNY Oswego, with a focus on fostering social mobility and student success, enhancing his leadership skills and promoting learning, personal-growth, and development in higher education.
