SAN FRANCISCO — In excess of 2,000 community college leaders, teachers and partners descended on San Francisco over the weekend for the American Association of Community Colleges’ 93rd Annual Convention, which concludes tomorrow. Attendees had the benefit of attending hundreds of sessions touching virtually every corner of the community college experience.
Yesterday, AACC attendees packed an oversold luncheon in the Moscone Convention Center for the 2013 Hail and Farewell Luncheon and AACC Business Meeting. The proceedings got underway with a recognition of retiring community college CEOs, CEOs who have served for at least 25 years, and new college CEOs.
In continuing with the theme of celebrating and recognizing exemplary service, Dr. John Roueche presented Dr. Walter Bumphus with the 2013 Diverse Champions Award, which recognizes higher education leaders who have shown unwavering commitment to equal opportunity and access for all. Bumphus is currently the president and CEO of AACC, yet David Pluviose, executive editor of Diverse: Issues In Higher Education, declared that Bumphus “has served in virtually every community college leadership position with distinction.”
Roueche, president of the Roueche Graduate Center at National American University and the former director of the University of Texas at Austin’s Community College Leadership Program, was the inaugural recipient of the Diverse Champions Award in 2012 and introduced Bumphus as a “champion for the underserved (and) the at-risk.” Roueche added, “You champion diversity. … You champion equality and opportunity.”
Roueche called Bumphus “my dear brother” and noted that he is “truly a leader among leaders.”
Bumphus said he chose to dedicate his career to community colleges because of his own upbringing. He grew up in a large family without much privilege and found his own background to be similar to that of many community college students. The audience at the luncheon acknowledged his steadfast dedication to community colleges with a standing ovation.
