Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) today announced the appointment of Dr. DeRionne Pollard, President and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), to its Board of Directors.
Dr. Pollard brings decades of leadership across both community colleges and four-year institutions, along with a deep commitment to expanding opportunity for students. She was selected in 2025 to lead AACC, becoming the first woman to head the national organization representing more than 1,000 community colleges and over 10 million students nationwide.
A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Pollard has served as president of Nevada State University and previously led Montgomery College and Las Positas College. Her career has been defined by a focus on student success, workforce alignment, and advancing access to high-quality education.
“Dr. Pollard is a leader who understands both the promise and the urgency of community colleges,” said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. “Her ability to connect vision with action—always centered on students—makes her an extraordinary addition to our Board. She represents the very best of what community college leadership can be.”
As President and CEO of AACC, Dr. Pollard leads the national voice for community colleges, advancing policies and practices that expand access, strengthen workforce pathways, and drive economic mobility. She champions the role of community colleges as engines of opportunity—institutions uniquely positioned at the intersection of education, industry, and community. Her leadership comes at a pivotal moment for the sector, as community colleges are increasingly called upon to meet workforce demands, close equity gaps, and fuel regional and national prosperity.
“PTK is an organization that is exceptionally run, student forward, and deeply committed to the mission of the nation’s community colleges,” Dr. Pollard said. “I was first introduced to PTK at the College of Lake County (IL) where I served as a chapter faculty advisor, and I was deeply impressed by the caliber of its programs. The leadership and service orientation it nurtures in talented students is extraordinary. It is an honor to join the PTK board in the tradition of previous AACC President & CEOs.”
Phi Theta Kappa’s Board of Directors includes leaders from across higher education and industry who share a commitment to student success, leadership development, and expanding pathways to completion and transfer.
Dr. Pollard’s appointment reflects PTK’s continued focus on strengthening national partnerships and ensuring that student voices and experiences remain central to the future of higher education.
About Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa is the first honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is the largest honor society in higher education, with more than 4.4 million members and nearly 1,250 chapters in 11 countries, including approximately 220,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at ptk.org.
