Brandon Kosine one of 23 distinguished community college presidents selected

Casper College President Brandon Kosine, Ph.D., is one of 23 leaders selected for the third cohort of the Aspen Presidents Fellowship. Kosine, a Wyoming native, will participate in the yearlong program focused on reform agendas to improve student graduation rates and post-graduate success. (Casper College photo)

Casper College President Brandon Kosine, Ph.D., is one of 23 distinguished college presidents selected to participate in the third cohort of the Aspen Presidents Fellowship. The Aspen Presidents Fellowship is part of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program.

“I’m honored to join the 2026–27 Aspen Presidents Fellowship and look forward to collaborating with fellow presidents and focusing on improving student outcomes at Casper College,” said Kosine.

The Aspen Presidents Fellowship is a unique yearlong professional development experience supported by JPMorganChase. During the program, presidents will develop a reform agenda to help more of their students graduate into good jobs, either directly after community college or after transfer and the attainment of a bachelor’s degree.

“We know from 15 years of intensive research how the best community colleges equip students with the skills and credentials that lead to good jobs and flourishing lives,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the College Excellence Program. “These 23 presidents have committed to strengthening their institutions, so those outcomes become the norm for every student.”

According to Aspen, through the yearlong program, fellows will work with highly accomplished community college presidents, Aspen leaders, and each other to analyze local labor markets, their colleges’ outcomes, national models of excellence, and lessons from highly successful presidents. The reform agendas they draft are then pressure-tested during multiday residential sessions, multiple webinars, and feedback from peers and experts.

This third cohort of Aspen Presidents Fellows represents community college leaders serving students and communities across the country. The fellows lead institutions in 14 states, spanning rural communities, suburban regions, and urban centers. They represent colleges with a wide range of missions — from comprehensive and technical institutions to tribal-serving colleges.

The cohort joins a growing network of 433 fellowship alumni, including 202 community college presidents, committed to strengthening student success and economic mobility in their communities. Aspen supports this network of community college leaders focused on reform through targeted professional development, research briefings, and convenings at national conferences.

Kosine became president of Casper College in May 2025 after serving as interim president. He is leading Casper College through a period of transition and growth while working with stakeholders to ensure the college’s continued success and advancement. His leadership as interim president and now as president has been instrumental in maintaining high standards of academic excellence, fostering a vibrant campus community, and furthering Casper College’s reputation as a leader in higher education.

A Wyoming native and first-generation college student, Kosine deeply believes in the access and success mission of community colleges and in the transformative power of higher education to change students’ lives. He is committed to expanding economic mobility and opportunity for rural and under-resourced students and communities. His inclusion in the third cohort of Aspen Presidents Fellows fits perfectly with his mission at Casper College.

Kosine served on the Commission for Rural Colleges with the American Association of Community Colleges and is a recipient of the Phi Theta Kappa Paragon Award for New Presidents. He currently serves on the boards of Advance Casper and Central Wyoming Counseling Center and is an active member of Five Trails Rotary.

He earned a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision from the University of Wyoming, a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Pittsburg State University, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wyoming. He is a licensed professional counselor and licensed addictions therapist in Wyoming.

####

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program aims to strengthen higher education leadership and practice to improve student outcomes — with the ultimate goal of advancing economic mobility and developing talent for the good of each individual and society as a whole.

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

At a Glance:

• Selection: Casper College President Brandon Kosine, Ph.D., is among 23 community college leaders chosen for the 2026–27 Aspen Presidents Fellowship.
• Program Purpose: A yearlong professional development program supported by JPMorganChase focused on improving student outcomes, graduation rates, and economic mobility.
• Fellowship Activities: Fellows will analyze labor markets, pressure-test reform agendas, and collaborate with national experts and peers.
• Presidential Background: Kosine became president in May 2025 and is a first-generation college student and Wyoming native.
• Professional Impact: The program aims to equip colleges with strategies to ensure students graduate into high-quality jobs or successful university transfers.