Austin Community College District’s (ACC) Theory of Change process enters its second year. With one successful cohort of the Chancellor’s Leadership Institute (CLI) now complete and another just beginning, momentum is building — and all employees are invited to get involved through a new opportunity launching this fall.

Celebrating CLI Cohort 1

The first CLI Cohort 1 (CLI1) officially graduated on August 13, 2025, after a year of team building, leadership development, and direct engagement with Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart. These leaders have spent the past 12 months exploring the Chancellor’s vision for leadership at ACC, and while their formal development year has concluded, their work continues.

CLI1 members will remain active as supporters of ACC’s Theory of Change, serving as business sponsors, design team reviewers, and implementation team nominators. They are also committed to connecting with colleagues across the College. Visit the CLI1 website to learn more about the cohort, view their leadership commitment statements, explore open office hours, and watch the September 5 Town Hall recording, where they presented the culmination of their year of work.

Welcoming CLI Cohort 2

As CLI1 wrapped up, CLI Cohort 2 (CLI2) kicked off September 15 with an intensive weeklong immersion in ACC’s evolving leadership culture. This second cohort of College leaders is spending eight hours a day during launch week building trust, learning from each other, and connecting deeply with the Chancellor’s vision. After the kickoff, they’ll transition to monthly sessions as they continue their leadership journey through 2026.

To see the new cohort and learn a bit about what they’ll experience this year, review the CLI2 website. 

CLI Selection Process

Many employees have asked about the selection process for CLI2. The Chancellor is focusing on upper-level leadership, specifically employees who report directly to a cabinet member or their direct reports. Due to the size of this group, participants have been divided into multiple cohorts over multiple years to ensure a balanced representation across campuses, departments, reporting structures, and years of service.

This structured approach supports the Chancellor’s goal of breaking down silos and building horizontal connections across the College. By first connecting administrators across the organization, the College can create a strong foundation for eventually extending CLI opportunities to employees at all levels.

A New Opportunity: Theory of Change Network

Recognizing the broader interest in leadership development across ACC, the Chancellor is introducing the Theory of Change Network (ToCN) — a new, Collegewide opportunity open to all employees.

ToCN is a monthly hybrid engagement space where employees can explore leadership topics, participate in elements of the CLI curriculum, and share responsibilities such as design team review and implementation team nominations. Russell will regularly attend these sessions, fostering dialogue around transparent, vulnerable, and values-driven leadership.

Enrollment is open each semester, with a short application process that takes a little planning — so take a look early and plan your efforts accordingly. The first deadline for the fall semester is September 22.

Theory of Change Network Enrollment Deadlines

Semester StartRegistration DeadlineFirst Meeting
Fall 2025September 22September 29
Spring 2026January 19January 26
Summer 2026May 11May 18

Employees interested in spending time with the Chancellor and contributing to the ongoing work of the Theory of Change are encouraged to consider joining the Theory of Change Network.

Looking Ahead

The Chancellor is also developing an additional opportunity that will connect College leaders from across all levels of the organization — from student-facing and frontline staff to cabinet members. While details are still in the works, this new initiative will further expand the ways faculty and staff can connect with ACC’s leadership vision in the year ahead.