Welcome to Cultivate Rural Community College Leaders

Hello everyone, I'm Andy Long, and I'm excited to launch this space dedicated to empowering managers and leaders within rural community colleges. My own journey, from growing up in a small Nebraska town to serving in leadership roles across rural higher education for the past thirteen years, has given me a deep understanding of the unique opportunities and challenges you face.

Growing up in a close-knit town of just 1,200 people in rural southwest Nebraska instilled in me a deep appreciation for the unique strengths and challenges of rural communities. My early career as a high school social studies teacher and basketball coach in similar settings provided invaluable firsthand experience within the rural education landscape, fostering a passion for empowering individuals within these vital institutions. Recognized by both students and administrators for my engaging teaching style and commitment to their success, this period laid the foundation for my understanding of effective leadership and development.

My journey then led me to Gallup, a global leader in understanding human behavior and organizational performance. As a training manager, I had the distinct privilege of immersing myself in decades of research on great organizations and exceptional managers. This intensive experience provided me with a robust education in the science of strengths-based development, employee engagement, and effective management practices. For the past thirteen years, I've brought this expertise to the forefront of rural community college leadership, serving as Director of Admissions and Dean of Enrollment at Northeastern Junior College, Vice President of Student Services at Mid Plains Community College, and currently as Dean of Enrollment Services at Central Arizona College. At Northeastern, we successfully bucked enrollment trends by applying Gallup's management principles, and at Mid Plains, a focus on engagement, KPIs, and strengths led to significant gains in student retention and graduation. This extensive and varied experience, rooted in both rural upbringing and world-class training, uniquely positions me to provide practical and impactful management development for rural community college leaders.

One of the primary objectives of this platform is to bridge the gap in professional development for leaders in rural community colleges. By offering a range of video courses, downloadable materials, and a regularly updated blog, Cultivate Rural Community College Leaders aims to provide valuable insights and actionable strategies for professionals in this field.

To support you at every stage of your development, I'm thrilled to offer a variety of resources, from free downloadable materials you can access today, to flexible online courses you can complete at your own pace, more intensive online programs with personalized virtual coaching, and even dynamic in-person training opportunities.

As a solo endeavor at this stage, I warmly welcome your feedback, questions, and requests as we build this resource together.