Washington, D.C.—August 7, 2023—The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) is pleased to announce the recipients of its annual Regional Awards for community college trustees, equity programs, chief executive officers, faculty members, and professional board staff members. The 2023 ACCT Awards program is sponsored by Edamerica.
ACCT's Regional Awards recognize the tremendous contributions made by trustees, equity programs, chief executive officers, faculty members, and professional board staff.
“The roles and responsibilities of community colleges have increased considerably in recent years,” said ACCT Chair and South Texas College Trustee Rose Benavidez. “The individuals who have been selected to receive this important recognition are truly vital to their communities and regions.”
“ACCT’s member colleges and the individuals who serve them work tirelessly, often with little recognition,” said ACCT President and CEO Jee Hang Lee. “We are proud to shine a spotlight on some of the nation’s best public servants and professionals through our regional awards program.”
The full list of awardees follows.
2023 Regional ACCT Awardees
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
Dr. 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
NORTHEAST 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
Dr. Jo Alice Blondin
Clark State College, Ohio
NORTHEAST REGION
Belinda Miles
SUNY Westchester Community College, N.Y.
PACIFIC REGION
Dr. Frank Chong
Santa Rosa Junior College, Calif.
SOUTHERN REGION
Forest Mahan
Aiken Technical College, S.C.
WESTERN REGION
Dr. Jesús Roberto RodríguezTexas 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 Shull
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
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Regional ACCT Awards were announced, one category per day, last week via ACCT's Twitter/X, LinkedIn and ACCT Connect accounts.
Individuals and colleges recognized at the regional level will contend 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 will be announced during the Annual ACCT Awards Gala on Wednesday, October 11 at the ARIA Hotel in Las Vegas, Nev., in conjunction with the 2023 ACCT Leadership Congress.