Tompkins Cortland Community College’s Merryn Clay and Sarah Dockstater have been chosen for the 2025-26 New York State Community College Leadership Academy. The yearlong program is designed to provide participants with a solid foundational understanding of critical student success and change management concepts. 

Clay, TC3’s temporary associate dean of academic affairs, and Dockstater, the director of financial aid, are part of the third cohort of the Leadership Academy. To date, 67 fellows from 25 SUNY community colleges have completed the program.

“I commend Merryn and Sarah on the leadership they have already shown in accepting this appointment. These type of experiences are incredibly valuable as we grow our leaders by investing in our faculty and staff,” said TC3 President Amy Kremenek. “We have had four fellows go through the program in the first two years. Tracey Brunner, Anndrea Mathers, Michelle Nightingale, and Cindy Whitney have brought what they learned back to campus, using what they learned to as contributing members of our community.”

The New York State Community College Leadership Academy content draws heavily on the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program Curriculum, in partnership with the National Center for Inquiry and Improvement and the Ohio Association of Community Colleges’ Success Center. The program is funded by the Ascendium Education Group, the ECMC Foundation, and the Kresge Foundation.