Celebrating a Legacy of Excellence

“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.”

- Rod A. Risley
Executive Director of Phi Theta Kappa

Dr. Shirley B. Gordon, a distinguished educator who devoted her life to teaching, died September 20 in Burien, Washington.

Born in Bremerton, Washington, Dr. Gordon received bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees from Washington State University.

She was instrumental in the founding of Highline Community College in Des Moines, Washington, in 1961, and became President of the college in 1976. Dr. Gordon was regarded as one of the nation’s most outstanding community college executives, and in 1981 was appointed by President Reagan to the National Commission on Excellence in Education. She was one of the authors of the Commission’s report, A Nation at Risk, which revitalized public education in America.

As an administrator at Highline, Dr. Gordon called on her close friend and colleague, Dr. Joan Fedor, to charter a chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. Because of her outstanding support of the chapter and the Society overall, Dr. Gordon was elected to the Phi Theta Kappa Board of Directors in 1986. She became Board Chairman in 1988, and served in that position for 20 years, longer than any other individual.

Dr. Gordon was a founding member and Trustee of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation, and was named an International Honorary Member of the Society. Phi Theta Kappa’s Hallmark Award for college presidents/CEO, the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction, is named in her honor.

Dr. Gordon retired as President of Highline Community College in 1990. She was a longtime board member and past board chairman of many years of Highline Medical Center; and active in other civic organizations in the Seattle area.

She received the American Association of Community College’s Leadership Award, and was named Communicator of the Year by the National Council for Community Relations.

Memorials for Dr. Gordon may be made to the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation-Hites Scholarship, 1625 Eastover Drive, Jackson, Mississippi 39211. A program celebrating the life of Dr. Shirley Gordon was held October 4 on the campus of Highline Community College.