Grossmont College Vice President selected for national Aspen Institute fellowship

April 07, 2023 at 3:08 PM

Grossmont College's Vice President of Student Services Marsha Gable.

EL CAJON – Marsha Gable, vice president of Student Services at Grossmont College, is one of 35 educators across the United States to be chosen by the Aspen Institute for a 10-month fellowship designed to prepare future community college presidents.  

Gable is one of just six from California, and the only leader from San Diego County, to be selected for the 2023-2024 class of Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship, which is offered in collaboration with the Stanford Educational Leadership Initiative. The fellowship brings together the next generation of community college presidents and prepares them to transform community college institutions to achieve higher and more equitable levels of student success. 

“I am truly humbled in being selected for the 2023-2024 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship cohort,” said Gable. “Over the next year, I look forward to engaging with thought leaders across the nation to dive deep into providing transformational leadership to community colleges centered on equity and student success. My background reflects many of the students who we serve, and through the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship, I hope to align my background and thought leadership to truly transform institutions to see our students thrive and achieve their dreams.” 

The 2023-2024 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellows class brings together leaders representing 18 states, from small rural colleges to large urban campuses. The fellows will work closely with highly accomplished community college presidents, Aspen leaders, and Stanford University faculty. Gable will be a part of a class of leaders that will work to develop their visions for excellent and equitable outcomes for community college students.  

Gable has served community colleges and the San Diego region for more than 20 years. In addition to her service as vice president of student services at Grossmont College, she has served as interim president at Grossmont College and San Diego Miramar College. Gable holds a Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership from San Diego State University, and a master’s degree in sociological practice and bachelor's degree in social sciences from CSU San Marcos.

“Grossmont College is proud of Dr. Gable’s extraordinary accomplishments and that the Aspen Fellowship has chosen a true equity-minded leader to join its Rising Presidents Fellowship,” said Grossmont College President Denise Whisenhunt. “Dr. Gable’s leadership has advanced student support services, student life and student success at Grossmont College.” 

The Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship was created to respond to the growing need for a new generation of leaders in community college administration. Nationally, many sitting presidents plan to retire in the next decade. While the traditional pathway to the presidency has often excluded women and people of color, the incoming class of Aspen Rising Presidents Fellows is composed of 74 percent women and 60 percent people of color.