Columbus State vice president appointed to prestigious Aspen Institute program

Campus News | Friday, June 9, 2023

After recently being appointed to the 2023-24 Aspen Institute’s Rising Presidents Fellowship, Desiree Polk-Bland can look back on a winding journey leading to her success. Currently a vice president at Columbus State Community College, where she has served in various roles since 2008, Polk-Bland was nominated by a colleague. Rebecca Butler, the college’s executive vice president, nominated Polk-Bland. Butler, a 2019 President’s Fellowship student herself, said, “Polk-Bland’s contribution to the Fellowship will advance the national conversation in student equity and will accelerate our success at Columbus State.”

Polk-Bland did not initially plan a higher education career. While working on a psychology degree at the University of Cincinnati, she took a part-time job as a vocational evaluator during the 1990s “Welfare to Work” era. At the time, public assistance enrollees were required to find a job. Polk-Bland helped them navigate a career path.

After transferring to Indiana University East, Polk-Bland finished a master’s degree in educational psychology and earned another in adult education. She also found her first professional full-time job providing student support services as a counselor in the TRIO Program at the university. Trio is a collection of federal outreach and student services programs designed to provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. “I loved working directly with students,” she said. “What’s working with students, what isn’t working, that outreach to support students is what I enjoy.”

Later, after serving four years as the director of Student Support and Development at Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana, Polk-Bland landed a three-year position in Counseling Services at Tidewater Community College in Virginia.  

By 2008 it was time to head back to her home state of Ohio. At Columbus State, Polk-Bland became the director of Advising Services before moving up through the administration. She served as dean of Advising and Student Support, executive dean of Student Affairs, and then in 2020, was named the vice president of Student Affairs, her current role.  

As a member of the President’s executive Cabinet, Polk-Bland cannot only impact students but also help transform college-wide systems and departments. “When we see students fall through the cracks, how do you change that?” she said. “What’s working with students, and what’s not? That is the type of outreach to support students.”

Her ongoing mission to assist students at every turn was among the reasons she strived for a doctorate. In 2018, Polk-Bland earned a Ph.D. in Education, Leadership for Higher Education Specialization from Capella University. 

Her next step in professional development begins with her appointment to the 2023-24 Aspen Institute’s Rising Presidents Fellowship. She is one of 35 leaders selected for the prestigious program development of the next generation of community college leaders. 

“I’m not 100% sure I want to become a college president,” said Polk-Bland. “But it will give me the skill set, the job expectations, and a professional network which would allow me the ability to step into that role should the occasion arise.” 

Executive Vice President Butler adds, “In my career in higher education, I have had the pleasure to work with many impactful leaders. Dr. Polk-Bland is unequivocally the most student and equity-centered leader I have worked with. Her unapologetic passion for ensuring that all students succeed and that we challenge ourselves every day to be a student-ready college is why Desiree is the perfect candidate as an Aspen Fellow.”

 

Go to 2023 Archive Go to Campus News