Dr. Shirley Gordon, Longest-Serving Board Chairman, Dies
With deep sadness, Phi Theta Kappa announces the loss of longtime Board
of Directors Chairman and dedicated educator Dr. Shirley Gordon. Dr. Gordon
died September 20 in Burien, Washington, following an illness of several
months.
"We have lost a great leader, and now must march forward
without her. Let us walk with confidence, armed with all that Dr. Shirley
Gordon taught us," said Phi Theta Kappa's Executive Director, Rod Risley.
"She was one of Phi Theta Kappa's greatest champions, who believed
that our Society possessed the critical ability to foster academic excellence,
build self-esteem and unleash the leadership potential of hard-working
students," Risley said.
Dr. Gordon was the longest-serving
Chairman of Phi Theta Kappa's Board of Directors, a position she filled
from 1988 through 2008. She was a founding member of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation,
and one of the first and most acclaimed female community college presidents
in the country. Dr. Gordon was one of 18 educators, and the only community
college representative, selected to serve on President Ronald Reagan's
National Commission on Excellence in Education, which led to the first
significant attempts to revitalize the nation's public education system.
Dr.
Gordon was President of Highline Community College in Des Moines, Washington,
from 1976 until her retirement in 1990. She was the third woman to receive
the prestigious American Association of Community College's Leadership
Award, and was named Communicator of the Year by the National Council for
Community Relations.
Dr. Gordon is a recipient of Phi Theta
Kappa's highest honor, International Honorary Membership.
Holder
of innumerable national education awards and accolades, Dr. Gordon always
said that she was especially proud that Phi Theta Kappa's award for distinguished
college presidents is named in her honor. Dr. Gordon also valued the Society's
chapter advisors and was involved in developing standards for Mosal Awards,
in addition to supporting other recognitions and benefits for Phi Theta
Kappa faculty. She played an integral role in establishing the Leadership
Development Studies Program.
Dr. Gordon received bachelor's,
master's and PhD degrees from Washington State University. Her career
in education, as a teacher and an administrator, spanned more than 50 years.
She was also a past chairman of Highline General Medical Center's Board
of Directors.
"Dr. Gordon devoted her life to learning. She
loved learning, students and faculty, she loved Highline Community College
and she loved Phi Theta Kappa. We will all join together to carry on her wonderful
legacy of scholarship, leadership, service and commitment," Risley said.
Memorials to Dr. Gordon may be made to the Phi
Theta Kappa Foundation-Hites Scholarship, 1625 Eastover Drive,
Jackson, Mississippi 39211. A Memorial Service for Dr. Gordon will be held
Saturday, October 4, at 11:00 am on the campus of Highline Community College.
