Narcisa Polonio

Narcisa A. Polonio is recognized as one of the leading authorities on community college governance, executive searches, and presidential leadership. She has facilitated over 400 board retreats and hundreds of executive searches including presidential searches. Joining G/A&A as executive team leader for community college practice, Narcisa provides leadership and guidance in the community college sector, universities with two year-campuses, technical colleges, urban colleges and universities, and Hispanic Service Institutions. She was one of the few Latina women to become a college president both in the public and independent sector. For approximately 18 years, Narcisa served as the executive vice president for education, research & board leadership services at the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). For many years she provided leadership for the ACCT’s annual leadership Congress, publications, research projects and leadership services including Retreat Service; Interim President Service; the Governance Leadership Institute; and the Governance Institute for Student Success. Prior to her role with ACCT, Narcisa served as the chief operating officer for Replication and Program Strategies, Inc. (RPS) in Philadelphia, PA, and president of Harcum College (PA) and Hudson County Community College (NJ). Other previous positions include director of the Office of Community Colleges, New Jersey Department of Higher Education. Narcisa served for seven years as a faculty member for the Institute for Educational Management, Graduate School of Education, Harvard University. Narcisa has an extensive list of publications and speaks throughout the country on issues related to governance, leadership, women in higher education, and diversity. Narcisa attended Foothill Community College, CA and holds a B.A. in history from San Jose State University (CA), an M.A. from Stanford University (CA) and an Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.