Walter Bumphus and Sheree Utash at the White House

WSU Tech president named to national board

Dr. Sheree Utash has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the American Association of Community Colleges

Wichita, KS – On Monday, in a national press release by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), it was announced that WSU Tech President Dr. Sheree Utash has been selected to serve on the organization’s board of directors. The AACC is governed by a 32-member Board of Directors and is the primary advocacy organization for the nation’s community colleges representing over 1,050 2-year associate degree-granting institutions and more than 12 million students.

“I am honored to be elected by my peers to the Board of Directors for the American Association of Community Colleges” said Dr. Utash,  “The important work done by the board, alongside Dr. Bumphus and his staff, to provide a national voice and advocacy to the two-year college sector as well as create peer networking, professional development initiatives, dialogue and community building, is an opportunity that I am greatly looking forward to.”

Dr. Utash has served as President of WSU Tech since 2015. Prior to that, she served eight years at the college as vice president of academic affairs. Dr. Utash also serves on the newly formed American Workforce Policy Advisory Board led by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and presidential advisor Ivanka Trump.

The official press release issued by the AACC can be found below or at this link:  https://www.aacc.nche.edu/2019/04/22/ten-community-college-presidents-elected-to-board/

TEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESIDENTS ELECTED TO BOARD
American Association of Community Colleges welcomes new board members.

Washington, DC — The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) represents the nation’s 1,051 community colleges and is governed by a 32-member Board of Directors. Ten community college presidents were recently elected to serve on the American Association of Community Colleges board of directors.

  • Joy Gates Black, President, Delaware County Community College
  • Brent Knight, President, Lansing Community College in Michigan
  • Anne Kress, President, Monroe Community College in New York
  • Sandra Massey, Chancellor, Arkansas State University – Newport
  • Gerald Napoles, President, Lone Star College – North Harris in Texas
  • Phil Neal, President, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
  • Joseph Schaffer, President, Laramie County Community College in Wyoming
  • Sheree Utash, President, WSU Tech in Kansas
  • Charlotte Warren, President, Lincoln Land Community College in Illinois
  • Kristine Young, President, Orange County Community College in New York

The new board members will begin their terms on July 1 and join 22 existing members. Also effective July 1, Cuyahoga Community College president Dr. Alex Johnson will begin his term as chair.  Johnson replaces Community College of Baltimore County’s president, Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis who will serve as the past chair for the 2019-2020 term.

“The AACC board of directors acts on behalf of our member colleges to create and maintain a vision for AACC and to advocate on behalf of the community colleges we serve,” said Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO.  “We are thrilled to have these esteemed colleagues join the board and know they will bring their unique talents and leadership to advance the nation’s community colleges in Washington, DC and throughout the country.”

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As the voice of the nation’s community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), delivers educational and economic opportunity for 12 million diverse students in search of the American Dream. Uniquely dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC’s nearly 1,000 member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, D.C., AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support they need to deliver on the mission of increasing economic mobility for all. 

WSU Tech, formerly Wichita Area Technical College, is the state’s leader in modern technical education offering over 100 degree and certificate options in aviation, health care, manufacturing, design, information technology, criminal justice and business. In 2018, WSU Tech was named the 2nd fastest growing college among two-year colleges by The Chronicle of Higher Education. WSU Tech serves as managing partner of the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) in Wichita, KS and is fully accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a Kansas Board of Regents institution. For more information, visit www.WSUTECH.edu.

 

AACC President Walter Bumphus with fellow advisory board member Sheree Utash, president of WSU Tech, during American Workforce Policy Advisory Board meeting at the White House. (Photos: Jen Worth/AACC)