MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - Dr. Tawny Dotson, Yuba College President, recently completed the Aspen Rising Fellowship, a prestigious, selective, and intensive program focused on transformational college leadership, cultural change, and collective action partnerships.

"Being selected to participate in the Aspen Presidential Fellowship was an honor of a lifetime,” Dotson said. “Over the course of the past 15 months I have been amongst the nation's best community college leader’s past, present, and future. Every lesson I've learned has been and will continue to be applied to my work at Yuba College."

Dotson said Aspen Rising taught her how to focus on what’s going to drive and increase a students’ ability to access, continue, graduate, and find transfer or employment. She said her students deserve the very best which was her motivation for participating in the program.

Dr. Mary Rittling, Dotson’s fellowship mentor, said when she was first assigned Dotson, she knew by the end of the initial conversation that she a was dynamic person and a great fit for the program.

“She (Dotson) became a college president at the most difficult time. Everything she conceived the position would be like changed because of COVID,” Rittling said. “She thought beyond the crisis. She adjusted, adapted, stayed resilient from where we were at to where we are now, and is determined to move in a positive direction. Yuba College is lucky to have her.”

Dotson said the fellowship program came with high expectations, but the rewards of a clearer leadership framework was worth it. There, she was able to focus, hone her skills, and network with incredible leaders.

“I appreciated her thoughtfulness and the way she really evaluated the elements of the program and her role as president,” said Monica Clark, director of the Aspen Rising President’s Fellowship. “This seemed to be a timely opportunity for her, and I look forward to following her journey.”

Dotson identifies as female which makes up 36% of sitting community college presidents. As a member of a minority group of leaders, Dotson said she wants to be a part of changing that for the generations that come behind her.

“I feel responsible for allowing someone to see that leadership, motherhood and marriage are all possible simultaneously,” Dotson said. “I feel responsible for doing it well and setting an example. Most importantly, I feel responsible for now creating opportunities for other female leaders to join me.”

Dotson completed the Aspen Rising Fellowship Sept.11.

Yuba College, located at 2088 North Beale Rd., Marysville, CA, has been providing quality education to the residents of the Yuba-Sutter area for over 85 years. The 160-acre campus opened its doors in 1962 and offers classes in over 90 programs that prepare students for a certificate, associate degree, or transfer to a four-year college. There are more than 9,000 students enrolled at Yuba College, but the college boasts a small student-to-teacher ratio. The smaller class size signifies more individual instruction attention from professors. For more information about Yuba College, please visit the website at yc.yccd.edu

Yuba College has a satellite campus, Sutter County Center. It is part of a two college District which covers 4,192 square miles and all or part of eight counties.