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.