Rufus Glasper, Ph.D., CPA, Chancellor of the Maricopa Community Colleges, was selected for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Diversity Award by the Town of Paradise Valley. Each year, the selection committee chooses an individual to receive the honor, a tradition since 2000. Past winners include a nationally known civil rights activist, local faith community leaders, international service organization founders, and government officials who have exemplified Dr. King’s vision and work.
Keeping with annual tradition, the award is being given on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 20, 2014) during a ceremony and luncheon at the Paradise Valley Town Hall. Historically, the program’s goal is to bring together Paradise Valley residents who are involved in advocacy and philanthropy through a wide variety of community, national and international causes congruent with Dr. King’s vision.
“I am honored to receive this recognition,” said Chancellor Glasper. “In a 1948 address at Morehouse College, Dr. King said, ‘the function of education…is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. The complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate.’ If he were alive today, I think Dr. King would be pleased at the progress we have made in helping our students achieve a complete education, one that includes academic, cultural, athletic and social enrichment.”
Dr. Glasper, became chancellor of the Maricopa County Community College District in 2003. As the CEO of one of the nation’s largest systems of community colleges, he is leading MCCCD to address the community’s education and workforce training needs. Throughout his tenure, Dr. Glasper has paved the education and training pathway for students to get the career training, transfer to a baccalaureate-granting institution, or take personal interest courses for individual growth and development. Dr. Glasper provides direct supervision to the college presidents and vice chancellors, and his leadership is built on three pillars: student success, public stewardship, and “ONE Maricopa”—working as a single, collaborative college system while maintaining each college’s unique identity.
Dr. Glasper is known as a staunch advocate for educational access and opportunity and has established inclusiveness, engagement and respect as the guiding principles of his administration. As Chancellor, Dr.
Glasper oversees all educational and administrative operations of the Maricopa system and provides leadership in matters of strategic planning, goal setting and the process of bringing the colleges and other learning centers into alignment. He serves as a leader of statewide groups that seek to shape the future of higher education in Arizona; and is a member of numerous boards and organizations whose purposes are to improve higher education locally, nationally and internationally.
Dr. Glasper has been with the district for more than 27 years, serving previously as executive vice chancellor for Human Resources and Administration, and vice chancellor for Business Services/CFO.
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