Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) President Dr. Karen A. Stout received the 2011 President’s Award for Education from the Upper Perkiomen Valley (UPV) Chamber of Commerce on June 16. The award recognizes Dr. Stout’s leadership and vision in developing educational opportunities for the Upper Perkiomen Valley.
In 2010, MCCC collaborated with the UPV Chamber to form the PerkUp Workforce Development Consortium to address the workforce education and training needs that emerged from a two-year community assessment process. By meeting the training needs of the area’s employers, the Consortium looks to improve the productivity levels of the workforce in the region.
Seed money from the Pennsylvania Department Community and Economic Development helped to fund the first-year implementation of the Consortium’s workforce education plan, which included training for 85 of the region’s employees.
Dr. Stout has served as President of MCCC since 2001. Under her leadership, the College has been recognized nationally for its work in student success as an Achieving the Dream institution. The College was also named the top community college in the country for its use of technology by the Center for Digital Education for three consecutive years; was named to the President’s National Honor Roll for Community Service for four consecutive years; and was named a Military Friendly institution by G.I. Jobs for three consecutive years.
Dr. Stout serves as chair of the President’s Advisory Board to the Community College Research Center (CCRC) at Columbia University Teacher’s College, chair of the American Council for Education’s (ACE) Commission for Women, a member of the NJCAA Board of Directors, a Commissioner for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and a member of the American Association of Community Colleges Board of Directors.
She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Delaware, a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Baltimore and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Delaware. She was named to the University of Delaware’s Alumni Wall of Fame in 2005 for her outstanding professional and public service achievements.
