March 5, 2014- Anaheim, California- The President of Albany Technical College, Dr. Anthony O. Parker, was presented with the League for Innovation's John and Suanne Roueche Excellence Award for his long tradition of excellence in community college teaching and leadership at a ceremony held on Monday in Anaheim, California.
A native of South Carolina, Parker is the offspring of two educators, one who served as a high school principal in rural South Carolina. He has served as the President of Albany Tech since July 1995. Since his arrival, Albany Tech has completed a capital campaign, doubled enrollment, and taken responsibility for adult literacy. New facilities have been constructed or renovated on the Dougherty County Campus, and a learning center in Randolph County, among many other endeavors.
Parker said that although times are different from when he was growing up, his philosophical worldview still does include the provision of opportunities afforded to him without regard for ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, or religious affiliation.
"For nearly 40 years, I have had the fortune of working in education as a teacher, administrator, and chief executive officer to promote the vision of an educated and highly skilled community," said Parker. "Reflective of the John and Suanne Roueche Award criteria focusing on innovation in community college instruction and leadership, I am humbled to receive this recognition on behalf of the faculty and staff of Albany Technical College."
Parker noted that Albany Tech maintains one of the highest job placement rates in the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). He credits this to strategies such as the college's implementation of the Academic Achievement Center. In addition, he believes the Career Development Center has set a precedent by "starting with the end in mind." Lastly, through the seven articulation agreements Albany Tech maintains with several universities, as well as the recent partnership with the Dougherty County School System, he believes the educational partnerships continue to strengthen the college and the community and he hopes to build on these relationships in the years to come.
Parker received a bachelor's degree in accounting from South Carolina State University, a master's degree in counseling and guidance from South Carolina State University, a specialist in education in educational administration from Augusta College, and a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina. He also graduated from the Institute of Educational Management at the Harvard University Graduate School and graduated from the Executive Leadership Institute at the League for Innovation in the Community College and also served as a faculty member on four occasions.
A member of the President's Council of TCSG, Parker was appointed by former Georgia Governor, Sonny Perdue, in 2006 to serve on the Career and Technical Education Advisory Commission. He was also recently appointed to serve on Governor Nathan Deal's Education Funding Commission to examine how funding formulas for the University System and the Technical College System should be changed in order to improve higher education outcomes in Georgia. He serves on numerous committees in the Albany community and in the state.
