Phi Theta Kappa Executive Director Named 2009 Distinguished Alumnus
Jackson, MS - Phi Theta Kappa's Executive Director Rod A. Risley accepted
the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award during the Society's International
Convention held in Grapevine, Texas, April 16-18. Risley was chosen for
the honor by the Society's Board of Directors and by the 2008-2009 International
Officers.
Risley is a community college graduate, member,
and former National President of Phi Theta Kappa who began work with the
Society 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 $10 million,
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 700 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 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. New to the program in 2009, The
All-State Community College Academic Team annually also recognizes 50
Gold, 50 Silver, and 50 Bronze Scholars with each scholar receiving a stipend
and recognition in USA TODAY. A total of 150 national finalists also receive
stipends. Risley was instrumental in working with USA TODAY in 2008 to ensure
the continuance of the program, when other recognition programs for high
school and senior college students and teachers were cancelled.
In
1994, Phi Theta Kappa launched the All-State Academic Team program as a
component of the All-USA Team. Thirty-seven states hold All-State Team
Recognition Programs, which have brought statewide media attention to
community colleges and $22 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 Honors 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'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 a 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 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 as a long-range planning consultant for the Federation
of State Humanities Councils, based in Washington, D.C., and served on
the board of Mississippi's Center for Non-Profit Organizations.
In
2008 he received the prestigious National Leadership Award from the American
Association of Community Colleges, presented during their first joint
convention session with Phi Theta Kappa.
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.
Phi Theta Kappa began formally
recognizing its Most Distinguished Alumni in 1970. When appropriate,
the Society has selected a recipient who has, through his or her professional
or personal endeavors, provided substantive contributions toward improving
the quality of life on national or international levels. Phi Theta Kappa
has bestowed this honor on only 35 individuals. Past recipients have included
journalist Jim Lehrer of the McNeil-Lehrer Newshour, former United Nations
Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick, The 700 Club co-host Ben Kinchlow, country
music entertainers Rudy Gatlin and Trisha Yearwood, industrialist H.
Ross Perot, oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, musical conductor Gerald
Steichen, figure skater Michael Weiss, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
Mirta Ojito, and Florida Congresswoman Illeana Ros-Lehtinen.
Risley
was presented with the award during the Convention's Opening Ceremonies
on April 16 by the 2008-2009 Phi Theta Kappa International Officers and
Board of Directors Chairman Kip Johnson.
In presenting the
award to Risley Johnson said, "As a student leader and a staff member since
1977, Rod has worked unceasingly to increase membership benefits, to make
membership a meaningful experience, and to ensure that members positively
impact their communities and the world. He has maintained the integrity
of the organization at all times, refusing to compromise the principles
of academic excellence which are the foundation of Phi Theta Kappa."
Risley
said in accepting the award, "It's been an honor to have served this organization.
It is an honor to serve it. And God willing, I look forward to leading the way
toward our Centennial celebration. I hope you'll be there with me. Thank
you so much."
