President's Award

Dr. George R. Boggs
Retired / Past President
American Association of Community Colleges
Washington, D.C.

After a decade as president of the American Association of Community Colleges and more than 40 years as an ardent advocate for community colleges, George Boggs retired in December, leaving behind a legacy that few will be able to match

In the last 10 years alone, while at AACC, he led the organization and the nation’s community colleges through an unprecedented period of growth and recognition.

On the national political stage, for example, community colleges received greater visibility and support than at any time in their history. Under the Bush Administration, community colleges were recognized for their critical role in preparing the nation’s workforce, and a Community- Based Job Training Grant program was developed to provide $250 million a year to colleges. The Obama Administration has proposed the American Graduation Initiative, a 10-year, $12 billion program to increase the number of community college graduates.

Under his leadership, AACC launched and expanded a wide array of programs, including:

Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count – AACC was a founding partner in this multi-year initiative funded largely by Lumina Foundation for Education to increase success among community college students, particularly low-income and students of color. This initiative now involves 102 colleges in 22 states, with a total philanthropic investment of $125 million.

The Voluntary Framework of Accountability – This two-year, $1 million program was established in 2009 and funded by Lumina Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop common performance measurements to evaluate institutional effectiveness.

Nursing and Allied Health Initiative – Created in 2002, this initiative is designed to strengthen the ability of community colleges to meet a critical and growing need for nurses and other health care professionals. Today, community colleges educate nearly half of new registered nurses and the majority of allied health professionals.

Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Program – Founded in 1994 and supported by the National Science Foundation, this program aims to improve or grow programs that prepare skilled technicians to work in high-tech fields. Funding for 2010 amounted to $64 million.

The Plus 50 Initiative – This three-year, $3.2 million project funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies is designed to create or expand programs at community colleges to serve adult learners 50 and older.

The Walmart Workforce and Economic Opportunity Initiative – This two-year, $2.3 million program is designed to improve economic prosperity, especially in under-resourced and rural communities.

Not surprisingly, Dr. Boggs has earned the respect of his colleagues. Says Dr. Molly Corbett Broad, President of the American Council on Education: “George Boggs has been a tireless proponent of America's community colleges and the students they serve and has long fought for greater recognition of these institutions that are so critical to our nation's economic future.”

And from Dr. John E. Roueche, professor and director of the Community College Leadership Program at the University of Texas at Austin: “The nation’s community colleges are respected, a part of every politician’s speech, and assuming more and more importance and prominence in the restoration of our nation's economy. Dr. Boggs and his AACC team have increased the visibility and the credibility of our colleges. All of us are indebted to him for a decade of quality leadership and service.”

Upon his retirement from AACC, Dr. Boggs returned to California, where he started his long career in higher education. For more than 15 years, he was president of Palomar Community College District, which serves San Diego County and enrolls more than 26,000 students. Before that, he was associate dean of instruction (1981-85), division chair (1972-81) and a chemistry instructor at Butte College in Oroville, Calif.

Dr. Boggs earned his Ph.D. in educational administration from the Community College Leadership Program at The University of Texas at Austin. He earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry from The Ohio State University and his master's degree in chemistry from the University of California, Santa Barbara.