AACC Board of Directors
AACC is governed by a 32-member Board of Directors. The Board acts on behalf of the institutional members to create and re-create a vision for AACC and to determine and assure appropriate organizational performance. The Board is committed to guaranteeing accountability of AACC to the membership.
AACC President and CEO
Dr. Walter G. Bumphus is President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). From its Washington, D.C., headquarters, AACC represents over 1,100 associate degree-granting institutions and some 12 million students.
Dr. Bumphus holds a B.A. degree in Speech Communications, an M.A. degree in Guidance and Counseling from Murray State University and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the Community College Leadership Program (CCLP), University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining AACC, Dr. Bumphus served as professor in the CCLP and chair of the Department of Educational Administration at the University of Texas at Austin.
Bumphus has served as CEO for two community colleges: president of Brookhaven College (1991-1997), part of the seven-college Dallas County Community College District, Texas' largest undergraduate institution; and as chancellor of Baton Rouge Community College (2000-2001). Prior to his presidential experience, he served as dean of students (1978-1987) and then vice president and dean of students at Maryland's Howard Community College (1987-1991) and dean of students at East Arkansas Community College (1974-78). He began his career as director of minority affairs at Murray State University (1972-74).
From 1997 to 2000, Bumphus worked in private industry as president of the Higher Education Division of Voyager’s Expanded Learning operation. Voyager provided innovative reading and other curricula to over 1,000 school districts in 45 states.
Dr. Bumphus has consulted for more than 100 institutions in 26 states, Canada and Puerto Rico on projects ranging from designing student development programs; total quality management; technology in students services, marketing and recruitment; and instructional strategies for high-risk students. He has chaired or participated in accreditation reviews for 19 institutions in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Florida and Puerto Rico.
Dr. Bumphus has served on the AACC Board of Directors (1993-1997) and as board chair (1996-97); on the Board of Directors of the American Council on Education (1997); on the National Advisory Board for the Education Commission of the States (1996-97); Advisory Committee for the League for Innovation in the Community College Kellogg Minority Leadership Project (1989-1991); and the Louisiana Workforce Commission (2002-06). He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the 2009 AACC Leadership Award; distinguished graduate award from both Murray State University and University of Texas (1992); 2005 CEO of the Year from the Association of Community College Trustees; and the Lifetime Achievement Award, North Carolina State University (1998).