EUGENE, OR - The National Council for Marketing and Public Relations District 7 awarded its 2012 Pacesetter of the Year Award to Dr. Mary Spilde, president of Lane Community College, at its annual conference Oct. 18 in Salem.
The award recognizes one president within the district for outstanding leadership and support for marketing and public relations. Each district winner becomes a nominee for the national award announced in March.
NCMPR is an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges and includes seven districts representing 650 two-year colleges in the United States and Canada. District 7 includes Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Yukon Territory.
Spilde was commended for increasing public awareness and support for community colleges nationwide, as well as for Lane. Nominators included State Rep. Arnie Roblan, Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Nancy Golden, and City of Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy.
Roblan wrote, "Mary has been a strong advocate for Lane and all community colleges throughout an outstanding career that shows leadership and commitment to students. Her strong advocacy and vision for all Oregonians has brought statewide and national recognition to the value of two-year colleges ... Her work on behalf of Oregon students serves as a role model for all of us."
Golden wrote, "She has demonstrated the partnership among all sectors of public education and helped raise public understanding and awareness of what we can do to support education, why education is so important, and what's at stake for our students. I couldn't begin to estimate the hundreds of young people in my district alone who have been empowered to go on to college due in no small part to the open path Mary has helped prepare for them."
Piercy emphasized Spilde's vision in building the new downtown campus, writing, "The campus already has contributed to the revitalization of our downtown core and has made all of Lane County proud."
About President Mary Spilde
Spilde has served as president of Lane since August 2001. She is past chair of the American Association of Community Colleges board and currently serves on its Sustainability Task Force and 21st Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges. She also serves on the boards of the national League for Innovation in the Community College, the American Association of Colleges and Universities, and the Oregon Education Investment Board.
Recent past awards include the 2012 Woman of the Year from the American Association for Women in Community Colleges and the 2011 CEO of the Year from the Association of Community College Trustees.
A national authority on community colleges, workforce education, and sustainability, Spilde is a frequent presenter, author and spokesperson and has been quoted in the Washington Post, New York Times, PBS Newshour, and Chronicle of Higher Education.
She has a bachelor's and a law degree from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and a master's and doctorate from Oregon State University.
Lane is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. Visit online at www.lanecc.edu or www.twitter.com/lanenews or www.facebook.com/lanecommunitycollege
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Contact: Joan Aschim, PIO, aschimj@lanecc.edu (541) 463-5591