Vernon Kays, dean of communications and mathematics at St. Louis Community College-Meramec, is one of 35 community-college leaders selected to attend the League for Innovation in the Community College’s 21st Executive Leadership Institute.

A national panel selected the group of participants from a pool of applicants holding senior-level positions of leadership in community colleges throughout North America.

“The review panel was extremely impressed with the quality of the applicants, which speaks well for the future vitality of the community college,” Gerardo E. de los Santos, president and CEO of the League for Innovation, stated in a news release.

The institute, to be conducted Dec. 7 to Dec. 12 in Tempe, Ariz., provides an opportunity for potential community-college presidents or those in transition to review their abilities and interests, to refine their skills and to participate in discussions with a variety of nationally and internationally recognized community college leaders.

The League for Innovation in the Community College is an international association dedicated to catalyzing the community-college movement. The league sponsors conferences and institutes, develops Web resources, conducts research, produces publications, provides services and leads projects and initiatives with member colleges, corporate partners and other agencies in a continuing effort to make a positive difference for students and communities.