National Leadership Award The Leadership Award, an annual tradition since 1982, is presented to individuals whose accomplishments and professional contributions to the community college field have been outstanding. An Awards Committee, consisting of members of the AACC Board of Directors, reviews all nominations and makes the final selections. Past recipients of the award include distinguished colleagues from educational institutions, foundations, and associations. Member institutions are invited to nominate an individual whose accomplishments and professional contributions to the community college field have been outstanding. Awards will be presented each year at the AACC Annual Convention. *** The nomination packet for the 2009 Leadership Award will be available in July. 2008 Leadership Award: Rod A. Risley
Executive Director, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society of the Two Year College Rod A. Risley's contributions to the community college arena have benefited thousands of community college students by expanding their access to scholarships, leadership development, honor programs, and service learning. Risley takes every opportunity to serve as an advocate for community colleges, and to promote the community college mission and the opportunities for excellence that these institutions provide. Making Phi Theta Kappa membership a vehicle for student development has been Risley's major goal since he joined the Phi Theta Kappa headquarters staff in 1977. He has served as Executive Director since 1985, and in that time has established landmark programs to promote personal growth through chapter participation and programs available to all community college students. In 1992 Risley introduced the internationally recognized Phi Theta Kappa Leadership Development Studies course, currently being taught at community colleges in most of the 50 states. Since the program began, more than 2,000 faculty and administrators have been certified as instructors. Risley is also responsible for a program created to provide comprehensive transfer resources to all community college students. After a thorough study of the barriers many students face when navigating the transfer process, Risley conceived the idea of a web-based platform available to community college students at no charge that would guide them through the transfer process. As Executive Director of the world's largest academic honor society for community college students, he works continuously to expand the benefits for Phi Theta Kappa members. Risley has doubled the number of chapters, increased the headquarters staff from five to 70, crossed the seas and continents to make Phi Theta Kappa an international organization, and developed programs to give members opportunities to grow as scholars and leaders. He worked with four-year colleges and universities to increase the number of scholarships available to Phi Theta Kappa members planning to transfer. Today more than 600 institutions in all 50 states, and also Canada and Great Britain, offer scholarships valued at $36 million annually. He has also established Phi Theta Kappa-funded scholarships for baccalaureate and associated degree studies. Working with former AACC President Dale Parnell, Risley helped develop the All-USA Academic Team for community colleges. Sixty outstanding community college students, and their colleges, receive stipends, scholarship offers, and national publicity each year as members of the All-USA Academic Team. These students have receive more than $2 million in awards since the program was established. Risley also uses Phi Theta Kappa's extensive resources to promote participation in other scholarship programs including the Coca-Cola Two-Year Scholars Program and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarships. Risley is a graduate of San Jacinto College and was honored in 1996 with the AACC Outstanding Alumni Award. He received a baccalaureate degree from Sam Houston State University, an M.B.A. from Millsaps College and is currently completing his doctoral dissertation in the Community College Leadership Program at Mississippi State University. Also, see Past Award Recipients. Contact: Norma Kent, nkent@aacc.nche.edu
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