The EdUp Experience If Facts Tell & Stories Sell, Why Is Higher Ed Still Using Facts? - with Dr. DeRionne Pollard, President & CEO, American Association of Community Colleges
Jan 29, 2026
Dr. DeRionne Pollard, President and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges and former community college president, explains why storytelling matters for policy and public support. She discusses reframing community college narratives, using student stories alongside data, AI adoption among presidents, and AACC’s new strategic compass with bold priorities and regional workforce focus.
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Stories Sell The Value Of Community Colleges
- DeRionne Pollard says "facts tell, stories sell" and prioritizes storytelling over raw statistics when advocating for community colleges.
- She emphasizes naming individual students and local employers to make the sector memorable to policymakers.
Start Leadership With Listening And Early Diagnostics
- Pollard interviewed every AACC staff member before starting and delivered a summative report on day one to build trust and clarity.
- She then directed a SWOT exercise and committed to a new organizational model and strategic plan by April.
Personal Roots In Community Colleges
- DeRionne Pollard shares childhood memories of sitting in community college hallways while family members took classes.
- Those experiences shaped her lifelong commitment to community colleges and inform her leadership at AACC.
