Morgan State University Professor Selected for National Higher Education Leadership Program

Morgan State University’s Samendra Sherchan, Ph.D., professor of biology and interim director of the Center for Urban and Coastal Climate Science Research, has been selected as a fellow in the American Association of Colleges and Universities’ (AAC&U) New Leadership Academy 2026 cohort.

Dr. Sherchan is one of 56 professionals nationwide chosen to participate in the highly selective program, which is designed to cultivate leaders prepared to guide higher education through periods of complexity, change, and opportunity. 

In addition to his faculty appointment in the University’s School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Dr. Sherchan serves as executive director of Morgan’s Center of Research Excellence in Wastewater-Based Epidemiology, where his work advances interdisciplinary research and public health innovation.

AAC&U’s New Leadership Academy Fellows Program is a six-month immersive leadership experience that equips mid- to senior-level professionals with the skills, tools, and confidence needed to navigate today’s evolving academic landscape. Fellows engage in real-world leadership practice through case studies, small-group facilitation, and both virtual and in-person sessions. The program also offers personalized coaching, research-informed strategies, and mentorship from nationally recognized higher education leaders.

Each cohort brings together individuals with diverse perspectives and professional backgrounds, including expertise in higher education leadership, health sciences, student engagement, public policy, and foundation work. Participants join a national network of leaders committed to advancing AAC&U’s mission of promoting equity, innovation, and excellence in liberal education.

The American Association of Colleges and Universities is a global membership organization dedicated to advancing the democratic purposes of higher education by fostering inclusive excellence and institutional transformation.

Dr. Sherchan’s selection reflects Morgan State University’s continued commitment to developing academic leaders whose scholarship and service contribute meaningfully to the University, the higher education community, and society at large.