AWC President receives Pacesetter of the Year Award
October 22, 2019Yuma, AZ (October 22, 2019) – Arizona Western College President Dr. Daniel Corr was recently honored with the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) Pacesetter of the Year Award.
This award is given to recognize community college presidents and CEOs in each of NCMPR’s seven districts who have demonstrated special leadership and support in marketing and public relations. Dr. Corr earned the award for District 6, which includes Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands and Territory of Guam.
Dr. Corr is now in the running for NCMPR’s National Pacesetter of the Year Award, which will be announced in March.
His signature phrase, “It’s a great day to be a Matador” reveals his enthusiasm for AWC and its students. With a focus on facilitating student success, increasing access to higher education, and fostering a climate of innovation, collaboration and stewardship, Dr. Corr is making positive changes for AWC students and their communities.
He became the ninth president of AWC in 2016 and brings over 25 years of higher education experience to his position. Only one year after becoming president, Dr. Corr launched a strategic plan to double the baccalaureate rate in the district. Through his leadership and partnerships with state universities, AWC leads the state’s transfer rate to four-year colleges and is the only college in Arizona that offers face-to-face courses and degree programs from all three state universities.
Dr. Corr is also creating a "college-going" culture through early college tuition programs that offer a nearly 80 percent discount for high school students taking college classes. Additionally, he is pioneering and piloting the Yuma Promise and the La Paz Promise, which will allow high school graduates who enroll at AWC as full-time students, complete the FAFSA, and complete their associate transfer degree within five consecutive semesters to be reimbursed for the entire out-of-pocket cost of tuition and program fees.
Committed to local business needs and a thriving community, Dr. Corr serves on the Yuma County Workforce Development Board, the Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority Board of Directors, and numerous other local boards. The list of his involvement doesn't end there. Nationally, he serves as an American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) commissioner and a Higher Learning Commission Peer Reviewer. In May of 2017, Arizona Governor Ducey appointed Dr. Corr to serve on the Arizona State Board of Education.
Dr. Corr’s greatest passion remains AWC’s students and their success. A first-generation college student himself, he helped launch a First-Generation campaign in 2017 to highlight the nearly 65 percent of AWC students who were the first in their families to attend college.
Referred to as a transformational leader, Dr. Corr has a focus on transparency, which includes clear and concise communication. He regularly speaks at community events, shares his observations of students, faculty and partners through Twitter, and seeks opportunities to connect with community members.
Contact:
Mandy Heil
Director of Communications and Marketing
Arizona Western College
Mandy.Heil@azwestern.edu
(928) 314-9594