House Plans: Phoenix Community College

Phoenix Community College

Rufus Glasper, Ph.D., is Chancellor of the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) and a higher education leader both in Arizona and nationally. Comprised of ten colleges, MCCCD is one of the nation's largest multi-college community college systems. Dr. Glasper was appointed Chancellor in September of 2003 by the District's five member elected Governing Board after serving as Acting Chancellor for the previous four months. Prior to his appointment Dr. Glasper served as Executive Vice Chancellor for Human Resources and Administration. He has held administrative and executive positions with the District for 25 years, beginning as Director of Finance. As CEO, the Chancellor provides direct supervision for the District's ten college presidents and five vice chancellors. Before coming to Maricopa, he served as Director of Financial Planning and Budgeting for the Chicago Public Schools. In addition to his administrative duties, he has been an adjunct professor in the graduate school of education at ASU for 12 years.

In his first presentation to the District after becoming Chancellor, Dr. Glasper articulated "inclusiveness, engagement, and respect" as guiding principles of his administration. He later aligned those principles with an emphasis on student success and public stewardship, two things on which he expects all of the District's employees to be focused. And the Chancellor has recently articulated his vision for "ONE Maricopa"— a single collaborative organization made up of ten colleges, rather than ten separate colleges that make up the District.

Chancellor Glasper has served education in Arizona beyond his role as Chancellor. In 2005 Governor Janet Napolitano asked him to serve with her as co-chair of the Governor's P-20 (Pre-kindergarten through graduate school) Council. The Council's charge was to improve education in Arizona by ensuring that more students graduate from high school, succeed in college, and are ready for the modern workforce.

Dr. Glasper currently serves with Dr. Tom Anderes, President of the Arizona Board of Regents, as the Committee co-chair for the Lumina Foundation on Education "Getting AHEAD" Initiative. Getting AHEAD is a comprehensive and collaborative initiative by Arizona's education institutions, business community and state government to reshape Arizona's post-secondary education system and enable more residents to successfully attain a college degree.

Nationally, Dr. Glasper serves as a member of the Commission on Higher Education Attainment, convened by the six presidential level higher education national associations to assess the need for improved college retention and attainment and to chart a course for improvement.

As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a certified Global Management Accountant (GMA), and a Certified Government Financial Manager (GFM), Chancellor Glasper's financial expertise and commitment to sound business practices have worked to the advantage of both the District and Maricopa County taxpayers. In 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, three national bond ratings agencies, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services (S&P), Moody's Investors Service, and Fitch Ratings, have awarded their highest "AAA" ratings for the sale and/or refinancing of general obligation bonds of the Maricopa County Community College District. Dr. Glasper's commitment at MCCCD is to build an institution that is financially sound and one that is educationally, organizationally, and ethically sound, as well.

Throughout his career he has been involved in the larger community, both locally and nationally. He is a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership, and currently serves on the boards of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, the Valley of the Sun United Way, Scottsdale Healthcare, and Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences. He is a long-standing member of the Greater Phoenix Urban League and the Board for Black Family Child Services.

He has served as the finance consultant for the Maricopa County Hospital Health Systems Board and served, by appointment of the Governor, as a board member and chair for the Arizona Health Facilities Authority. In addition, he is past chair of the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants Board of Directors, a member of the Phoenix Community Alliance, a past chair the Council for the American Institute for Certified Public Accountants, served on the Board of the National Association of College and University Business Officers, and was the chair of the Special Review Executive Committee on College and University Reporting for the Government Finance Officers Association. Additionally, at the national level Dr. Glasper serves on the Air University Board of Visitors. He also served as the Chair of the Board for the League for Innovation in the Community College and RC-2020, a not-for-profit association of community college CEOs serving major metropolitan areas.

Chancellor Glasper has been the recipient of numerous awards. In 2011, he received the Jerry J. Wistosky Torch of Liberty Award from the Phoenix Regional Office of the Anti-Defamation League and the Victoria Foundation's Advocate for Education Award. In 2010, Dr. Glasper was recognized by the Phoenix Business Journal as one of the 25 Most Admired CEOs and Top Level Executives in Arizona and in the same year, he received the Cesar Chavez Diversity Award from the Glendale Chamber Foundation and the City of Glendale for contributing significantly to creating a diverse and inclusive community.

In 2009 he received the Arizona Public Service, Center for Culture and Understanding at Valle del Sol, Peacemaker Award for fostering and strengthening civic engagement by promoting greater understanding of inter-group relations within Arizona. He also received the National Council on Black American Affairs 2009 Leadership Award. In 2008 he received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Living the Dream Award from the Phoenix Human Relations Commission for being a champion of student success as part of his commitment to human relations and social justice.

In 1997 he received the Roy Wilkins Award from the Maricopa County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for leadership, hard work, and dedication to the ideals of the NAACP. In May 2006, the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants honored Dr. Glasper by making him a Life Member.

Rufus Glasper holds a Bachelor's degree in business administration from Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), and a Master's in school business administration from Northern Illinois University. He earned his Doctorate of Philosophy degree in higher education finance from the University of Arizona. In May of 2005 he was the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate in Political Science from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.