The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), in its regional awards program, annually recognizes one trustee, equity program, chief executive officer, faculty member, and professional board staff member in each of its five regions for their tremendous contributions to community colleges. Up to 25 ACCT Regional Awards are announced each year immediately prior to the Annual ACCT Leadership Congress. Regional Awardees are presented with their awards during the ACCT Leadership Congress, and then one awardee from each of the five categories is recognized with ACCT's Annual Association Awards during the Annual ACCT Awards Gala.
One Recipient from Each of Five Regions
- Trustee (Trustee Leadership Award)
- Board/CEO Team (Equity Award)
- Chief Executive Officer (Chief Executive Officer Award)
- Faculty Member (Faculty Member Award)
- Professional Board Staff Member (Professional Board Staff Member Award)
Current ACCT Regional Awardees
ACCT congratulates the 2023 ACCT Regional Award recipients for their outstanding work.
Those recognized at the regional level contended for the national-level recognition of the following ACCT Association Awards: 2023 M. Dale Ensign Trustee Leadership Award; 2023 Charles Kennedy Equity Award; 2023 Marie Y. Martin Chief Executive Award; 2023 William H. Meardy Faculty Member Award; and 2023 ACCT Professional Board Staff Member Award.
One outstanding award recipient in each category was announced in Las Vegas during the Annual ACCT Association Awards presentation on Wednesday, October 11 in conjunction with the 54th Annual ACCT Leadership Congress.
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2023 Trustee Leadership Award
CENTRAL REGION
Vernon Jung, Jr.
Moraine Park Technical College, Wisc.
NORTHEAST REGION
Bakari Lee*
Hudson County Community College, N.J.
PACIFIC REGION
Deborah McCasland
Yavapai College, Ariz.
SOUTHERN REGION
Eugene Lamb, Jr.
Tallahassee Community College, Fla.
WESTERN REGION
Brian Haggerty
El Paso Community College, Texas
2023 Equity Award
CENTRAL REGION
Cuyahoga Community College, Ohio
PACIFIC REGION
Kern Community College District, Calif.*
SOUTHERN REGION
Tri-County Technical College, S.C.
WESTERN REGION
San Jacinto College, Texas
2023 Chief Executive Officer Award
CENTRAL REGION
Jo Alice Blondin*
Clark State College, Ohio
NORTHEAST REGION
Belinda Miles
SUNY Westchester Community College, N.Y.
PACIFIC REGION
Frank Chong
Santa Rosa Junior College, Calif.
SOUTHERN REGION
Forest Mahan
Aiken Technical College, S.C.
WESTERN REGION
Jesús Roberto Rodríguez
Texas Southmost College
2023 Faculty Member Award
CENTRAL REGION
Diane Roose
Lansing Community College, Mich.
NORTHEAST REGION
Shahrzad Heidary
Union College of Union County, N.J.
PACIFIC REGION
Jerald Monahan
Yavapai College, Ariz.
SOUTHERN REGION
Christine Pegorraro Schull*
Northern Virginia Community College
WESTERN REGION
Lauren Gillespie
Central Community College, Neb.
2023 Professional Board Staff Member Award
CENTRAL REGION
Kathy Dimitriou
Henry Ford College Mich.
NORTHEAST REGION
Kurt Doan
Harford Community College, Md.
PACIFIC REGION
Rafeeka Kloke
Whatcom Community College, Wash.
WESTERN REGION
Pamela Payne*
El Paso Community College, Texas
(*indicates the winner of the 2023 Association award for that category)
To see the past Regional Awards Recipients, click here for a complete listing.