Phi Theta Kappa Executive Director Receives National Leadership Award
Rod Risley, executive director of Phi Theta Kappa international honor
society and longtime advocate for community colleges, was presented with
the 2008 National Leadership Award from the American Association of Community
Colleges (AACC) during a historic joint session of the AACC Annual Convention
and the Phi Theta Kappa International Convention held April 5 in Philadelphia.
The award honors outstanding leadership at the national level and long-standing
commitment to community colleges.
He was presented with the
award by AACC President Dr. George Boggs and AACC Board Chair Dr. Ding Jo
Currie before an audience of more than 5,000 community college presidents,
administrators, sponsors, Phi Theta Kappa members, advisors and alumni.
"It
is my hope that this recognition provided today serves to raise the aspirations
of all Phi Theta Kappa members here today and those in the future of what is
possible to achieve in life by believing in an idea... that excellence knows
no boundaries, that the acquiring of knowledge is a responsibility and
a gift - a gift to be shared to improve the quality of life of those we serve,"
Risley said in his acceptance remarks. "This award recognizes an extraordinary
journey of many -- members, advisors, presidents, administrators, Phi
Theta Kappa staff past and present who were joined by a belief -- that each
has the responsibility to learn and to serve."
Risley, himself
a community college graduate, began work with Phi Theta Kappa in 1977. He
was named executive director in 1985 with a staff of five, an annual operating
budget of $500,000, and 550 chapters located in 48 states. Today the staff
numbers nearly 70, the operating budget exceeds eight million dollars,
and the Society serves 1,250 chapters in all 50 states, U.S. Territories,
Canada, Germany, the British Virgin Islands, the Republics of Palau and
Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and the United Arab Emirates.
Nearly 100,000 students earn Phi Theta Kappa membership annually, and
2.25 million members have been inducted since 1918, making Phi Theta Kappa
the largest honor society in higher education.
Under Risley's
leadership, procurement of scholarship funds for Phi Theta Kappa members
has been a priority. In 1977, only four senior institutions designated
transfer scholarships to Phi Theta Kappa members. Today 665 senior institutions
designate $36 million in transfer scholarships to members. In 1994, the
Society launched the first-ever Transfer Database for two-year college
students, connecting senior institutions to Phi Theta Kappa scholars
for recruitment purposes.
Risley's latest effort has been
to lead Phi Theta Kappa in the development of CollegeFish.org, a Web-based
platform designed to aid all community college students in planning for
transfer to a senior college. The platform matches senior colleges to a
student's profile to provide good academic "fit" based on the transfer
student's interests, abilities, program of study and financial needs.
The site provides an extensive database of scholarships designated for
community college transfer students.
Risley helped establish
the All-USA Academic Team for Community Colleges, a program that recognizes
community college students nationally for academic and leadership accomplishments.
Winners are featured in USA TODAY and have been awarded more than $2 million
in scholarships since the program began in 1990. In tandem with the All-USA
program, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and The Coca-Cola Foundation
support Phi Theta Kappa and AACC to recognize each year the top two-year
college scholar from the 50 states as New Century Scholars. Scholars receive
$2,000 scholarships at AACC's convention.
In 1994, Phi Theta
Kappa launched the All-State Academic Team program as a component of the
All-USA Team. Thirty-four states hold All-State Team Recognition Programs,
which have brought statewide media attention to community colleges and
$41 million in senior institution scholarships for team members.
Risley
also helped conceive and launch Phi Theta Kappa's internationally acclaimed
Leadership Development Studies Program, which is now offered in 400 colleges
in 49 states, Canada and Singapore with more than 1,200 certified faculty.
Initial funding was provided by a $1.8 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg
Foundation. In 1999, the Kellogg Foundation selected Phi Theta Kappa's
humanities-based Leadership Studies Program as one of only seven exemplary
leadership programs ever funded by the foundation.
In 1997,
following the Society's first-ever capital campaign led by Risley, Phi
Theta Kappa dedicated The Center for Excellence, the organization's international
headquarters located in Jackson, Mississippi. This past year, Risley
successfully led efforts to establish the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation,
a non-profit organization to secure funding support for Society programs,
operations and scholarships.
Each fall, Risley serves as moderator
of the Phi Theta Kappa Satellite Seminar Series. Broadcasting live from
Mississippi's Public Broadcasting Television Studios in Jackson, Risley
hosts distinguished experts and scholars from around the world discussing
Phi Theta Kappa's Honors Study Topic. More than 400 colleges have subscribed
to the series, which is used for course instruction and community forums
Risley
serves on the national Commission for Academic and Student Development
for the American Association of Community Colleges and the Jack Kent Cooke
Foundation Community College Transfer Initiative. He is a frequent commencement
speaker, presenter at state and national education association meetings,
and writer on community college issues.
In 2007 he was elected
chair of the Mississippi Humanities Council, a Mississippi-based non-profit
organization, which provides and supports statewide public programs
based on the humanities. He currently serves on a taskforce for the Federation
of State Humanities Councils, based in Washington, D.C., and serves on
the board of Mississippi's Center for Non-Profit Organizations.
Born
in Hutchinson, Kansas, and a current resident of Flora, Mississippi, Risley
is a graduate of San Jacinto College in Texas. He holds a baccalaureate degree
from Sam Houston State University in Texas and an MBA from Millsaps College
in Mississippi. He has been awarded three honorary doctorate degrees and
is currently completing his doctoral dissertation in the Community College
Leadership Program at Mississippi State University in Starkville. In
1996, Risley was honored as one of AACC's Outstanding Alumni.
The
American Association of Community Colleges is the primary advocacy organization
for the nation's community colleges. The Association represents more
than 1,200 associate degree-granting institutions and some 12 million
students. See previous winners
of the National Leadership award online.
Phi Theta Kappa International
Honor Society, headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, is the largest
honor society in American higher education with 1,250 chapters on two-year
and community college campuses in all 50 of the United States, Canada, Germany,
the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated
States of Micronesia, the British Virgin Islands, the United Arab Emirates
and U.S. territorial possessions. More than two million students have
been inducted since its founding in 1918, with approximately 100,000 students
inducted annually.
