Twenty-eight College Presidents to Receive Paragon Award for New Presidents

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) will recognize 28 college presidents with the Paragon Award for New Presidents during PTK Catalyst 2023, the Society’s annual convention in Columbus, Ohio, April 20-22.

To be eligible for this award, college presidents and CEOs are new in their role having served less than 3 years. Recipients are nominated by students on their campus and are only eligible to receive the award once. These 28 recipients were selected from among 406 college presidents, chancellors, and CEOs eligible to receive this award.

The award recognizes college presidents who have shown support of student success initiatives leading to stronger pathways to completion, transfer, and employment. They have taken an active interest in supporting high-achieving students and developing student leaders on campus. “These college presidents have students-first leadership styles and made it a priority to support student success both inside and outside the classroom,” says Phi Theta Kappa President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner. “This award is special because it comes directly from the students, and it is evidence of the gratitude they feel for the support for them and students like them.” The 2023 recipients are:

Dr. Vincent Bowhay Independence Community College Kansas	Dr. Kimberly Britt Phoenix College Arizona
Olivier Charles Bishop State Community College Alabama	Dr. Ronnie (Scott) Cook Dyersburg State Community College Tennessee
Dr. Lisa Dresdner Naugatuck Valley Community College Connecticut	Dr. Theresa Felder Harford Community College Maryland
Dr. Felicia Ganther Bucks County Community College Pennsylvania	Dr. Michael Gavin Delta College Michigan
Dr. John Hartog Northwest Iowa Community College Iowa	Dr. Jimmy Hodges Calhoun Community college Alabama
Tim Hood Mid Michigan College Michigan	Dr. David Johnson Merritt College California
Dr. Brian Kelly Clinton Community College Iowa	Dr. Justin Lonon Dallas College – Eastfield & Brookhaven Campuses Texas
Dr. Daniel Lopez Harold Washington College Illinois	Kim Lopez Cañada College California
Dr. Daniel Lufkin Tarrant County College Texas	Dr. Jennifer Methvin Arkansas State University – Beebe Campus Arkansas
Dr. Paige Niehaus Hillsborough Community College – Dale Mabry Campus Florida	Dr. Kathleen Plinske Valencia College – Osceola Campus Florida
Dr. Steve Robinson Lansing Community College Michigan	Dr. Greg Schulz Citrus College California
Dr. Vincent Solis Brazosport College Texas	Dr. Howard Spearman Rock Valley College Illinois
Dr. Stephen Vacik Hinds Community College Mississippi	Dr. Christopher Villa Skagit Valley College Washington
Dr. Jermaine Whirl Augusta Technical College Georgia	Lisa Willenberg University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton Arkansas

About Phi Theta Kappa

Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at ptk.org.