What is SALI?
The State Association Leadership Institute (SALI) was established to support new State Association startups, provide additional support, capacity building, and professional development for all associations, and to showcase excellence in state association leadership.
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COABE is excited to launch the fifth cohort of the State Association Leadership Institute (SALI)!
Congratulations to the fourth cohort of the State Association Leadership Institute
The State Association Leadership Institute (SALI) provides state association leaders with professional development, capacity building, and resources to improve state associations and help new state associations start up. COABE proudly recognizes the fourth SALI cohort leaders that have met the standards associated with each level of participation.
Alabama
Hollie Patterson
Alabama Association for Public Continuing & Adult Education
Alaska
Dr. Teresa Barton
Alaska Adult Education Association
Arizona
Carolyn Kidd
Arizona Association of Lifelong Learning
Connecticut
Heather Pelletier
Connecticut Association of Adult and Continuing Education
Florida
LaShan Crumpler
ACE of Florida
Georgia
Debra Tavaras
Illinois
Christopher McElroy
Illinois Adult and Continuing Education Association
Indiana
Maeve Warrick
Indiana Association for Adult and Continuing Education
Kentucky
Erin Moses
Kentucky Association of Adult and Continuing Education
Louisiana
Mark Hux
Louisiana Association for Public, Community & Adult Education
Maine
Razell Ward
Maine Adult Education Association
Maryland
Ja'Ken Caston
Maryland Association for Adult, Community and Continuing Education
Michigan
Whitney Dettmer
Michigan Adult, Community & Alternative Education Association
Minnesota
Ann Trochlil
Literacy Action Network
Missouri
Jenny Phipps
Missouri Association for Adult Continuing and Community Education
New Hampshire
Deanna Strand
New Hampshire Adult Education Director's Alliance
New York
Katie LaBonte
New York State Association for Continuing and Community Education
Ohio
Eunice Cabrera
Ohio Association for Adult and Continuing Education
Oklahoma
Lani Burns
Oklahoma Association for Adult & Continuing Education
Pennsylvania
Lori Como
Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Education
South Carolina
Natasha Greene Prosser
South Carolina Association of Adult and Continuing Education
Tennessee
Leslie Travis
Tennessee Association on Adult and Community Education
Texas
Pataricia Hernandez
Texas Association of Literacy and Adult Education
Virginia
Jessica Chenoweth
Virginia Association of Adult and Continuing Education
Wisconsin
Anna Bierer
Wisconsin Literacy
Here’s what you and your association can expect to gain by participating in SALI:
1) Leadership training
2) Professional development
3) Funding provided by COABE
4) Community of Practice
5) Resources and capacity building
6) Recognition and visibility opportunities
Who Can Participate?
Your paid staff and/or board of directors are invited to participate, however we ask that you select one individual as the representative (COABE liaison) for this initiative.
How much time will be required to participate?
We will hold one hour sessions on the 4th Monday of each month, starting in July 2026. Sessions will be recorded for those that are unable to attend, however we do require consistent attendance to access the funding that COABE will provide.
What Funding is COABE Providing?
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Free COABE 2027 conference registration for your COABE liaison
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$100 Amazon gift card for your COABE liaison at the close of the institute
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State Association Leadership Award ($2,000) given at the COABE conference
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Seed funding for new or struggling associations
