Episode 17: The Shoulders We Stand On: Mentorship in Dr. DeRionne Pollard’s Journey
Before becoming the first woman to lead the American Association of Community Colleges, Dr. DeRionne Pollard was a student with big dreams and powerful mentors who believed in her potential. In this first episode of our Mentorship Series, we explore how mentors helped shape her journey—from her early days as an English instructor to her trailblazing roles in higher education leadership. Dr. Pollard opens up about the people who poured into her, the lessons that linger, and how mentorship continues to ground her as a lifelong learner and leader.
Dr. DeRionne Pollard was named president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in July of 2025. Her passion for higher education has driven her leadership in several roles, most recently as the president of Nevada State University, Montgomery College (MD), and Las Positas College (CA).
Dr. Pollard’s career in higher education began in the classroom teaching English and she remains deeply committed to life-long learning for her students and herself. A student-centered ethos is at the core of her leadership and she is a champion for access, fairness, and opportunity for all. Throughout her career Dr. Pollard's vision has been grounded in a belief that higher education is a pillar of economic mobility and community strength.
Dr. Pollard’s experience in the higher education sector is rich, having served on the American Association of Community Colleges’ 21st Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges, the Commission on Academic, Student, and Community Development, and the Board of Directors. Dr. Pollard is a member of the National Board of Directors and Executive Committee for Generation Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the success of teen parents and parenting college students.
Dr. Pollard was named one of Washington’s 100 Most Powerful Women by Washingtonian Magazine, won a 2017 Academic Leadership Award from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and a Visionary Award from the Washington Area Women’s Foundation. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies in higher education from Loyola University Chicago.
Dr. Pollard is the first woman to be named president and CEO of AACC and now serves as the nation’s leading advocate for community colleges.
Gracie Armstrong is a college student balancing parenting responsibilities with work, and academic obligations. She was a Generation Hope Scholar, and continues to impress everyone she meets with her resiliency, dogged persistence, and dedication to being a good mom. She has big plans for her life, and mentorship is just one tool in her pocket to ensure she achieves her goals.
