George R. Boggs, Ph.D.
George R. Boggs, Ph.D.
Chair, Board of Directors
President & CEO Emeritus, American Association of Community Colleges
Superintendent/President Emeritus, Palomar College
Why I Serve PTK
“I serve Phi Theta Kappa because I have spent my career believing in the power of community colleges to transform lives through access, achievement, and opportunity. PTK embodies that mission by recognizing student excellence and creating pathways for leadership, growth, and long-term success.”
About George Boggs
Dr. George R. Boggs has served on the Phi Theta Kappa Board of Directors since 2006 and as Board Chair since 2015, bringing decades of national leadership in community colleges and higher education. He is President & CEO Emeritus of the American Association of Community Colleges and Superintendent/President Emeritus of Palomar College, and continues to teach, consult, write, and speak on emerging issues in higher education leadership.
Commitment to Student Success
Throughout his career, Dr. Boggs has championed access, equity, and student learning. His leadership helped launch the Learning College Movement and establish national initiatives such as Achieving the Dream, advancing student success and closing achievement gaps across community colleges.
Education
- Ph.D., Educational Administration, The University of Texas at Austin
- M.A., Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara
- B.S., Chemistry, The Ohio State University
Leadership and Service
Dr. Boggs has served in leadership roles across many of the nation’s most influential higher education organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences, National Science Foundation, American Council on Education, ETS, ABET, and the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics. His work has consistently focused on advancing student opportunity, STEM access, and institutional excellence.
Publications
A College for All Californians
This book explores how California’s model, shaped by postwar expansion, the GI Bill, and the state’s Master Plan for Higher Education, helped define the modern mission of open access, workforce development, and transfer pathways. Ultimately, it positions community colleges as essential engines of social mobility and economic opportunity, both in California and nationally.
Practical Leadership in Community Colleges: Navigating Today’s Challenges
Drawing on decades of leadership experience, the book examines critical issues—from accountability and funding pressures to equity, workforce demands, and organizational change—while providing practical frameworks for anticipating and managing them. Ultimately, it equips current and aspiring leaders with the tools to align mission, navigate uncertainty, and drive institutional success in service of students and communities.
Team Leadership in Community Colleges
This book explores how leaders can build, align, and sustain collaborative teams across complex college environments, emphasizing shared leadership, communication, and adaptability. Ultimately, it positions team-based leadership as essential to navigating change and strengthening the capacity of community colleges to serve their students and communities.
Handbook on CEO-Board Relations and Responsibilities
This book outlines core roles, responsibilities, and structures while offering actionable strategies for hiring, evaluating, communicating, and resolving conflict within this partnership. Ultimately, it emphasizes that strong, trust-based CEO–board relationships are essential to effective governance, institutional stability, and long-term success.