"It has been such an honor to have been selected from over 900 applicants," said Warner. "This is a way to tell the story of the importance of afterschool to a new audience of potential partners."

Sixty scholars from a variety of sectors – private, public, non-profit, military, and academia – were invited to participate in this year's cohort, which will begin a 6-month, executive-education series at Mount Vernon, George Washington's home, in late February. Over the course of the program, scholars will travel to each participating presidential center to learn from former presidents, key administration officials, and leading academics to learn and put into practice varying approaches to leadership, develop a network of peers, and exchange ideas with mentors and others who can help them make an impact in their communities.

The program is non-degree bearing, and entails approximately 100 hours of informative sessions and case studies, and covers expansive approaches to leadership theory, drawing upon examples from recent presidents.

The curriculum draws from presidential center archives and resources related to leadership moments from each administration. It includes insights from how each president addressed pressing challenges and benefits from the participation of President George W. Bush and President William J. Clinton. It also relies upon in-depth analyses of how leaders across all sectors address similar types of challenges.

Warner was named President and CEO of the National AfterSchool Association in June 2012, after having served for six years as the Executive Director of the Partnership for Youth Development in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is a 1990 graduate of the University of South Alabama and a 1995 graduate of Loyola Law School.