Mohawk Valley Community College is proud to announce that President Dr. Randall J. VanWagoner has been named the recipient of the 2024 Association of Community College Trustees’ (ACCT) Northeast Regional Chief Executive Officer Award. As a regional honoree, VanWagoner is now a finalist for the ACCT’s prestigious 2024 Marie Y. Martin Chief Executive Officer Award at the national level. The regional awards will be presented at the 55th annual ACCT Leadership Congress on Oct. 25 in Seattle, where the national awardee will be revealed during the Awards Gala.

The ACCT Chief Executive Officer Award recognizes the exceptional contributions of community college CEOs, who work to meet the needs of their communities while advancing the community college mission. “Countless unheralded heroes work tirelessly at ACCT’s member colleges,” said ACCT President and CEO Jee Hang Lee. “We are proud to shine a spotlight on some of the nation’s most outstanding public servants and professionals through our regional awards program.”

VanWagoner's leadership at MVCC is marked by his unwavering commitment to educational excellence and innovation. He has guided the College through significant transformations with a strategic approach that embraces change and enhances educational quality. VanWagoner is known for his close connections with both staff and students, fostering a culture of collaboration, equity, and innovation that has had a lasting impact on MVCC and the broader community college landscape. His personable leadership style is characterized by open communication, collaboration, and individual recognition, which has cultivated a culture of affirmation and care at the College. His notable initiatives include the “Hawks that Soar” award program, enhanced Emeritus and Distinguished Retiree designations, and the “Who Made Your Day” feature, which recognizes acts of kindness. His dedication to students is evident not only in program development but also in his personal interactions, including informal meetings, participation in student activities, and regular communication through College Senate meetings, blog posts, and email updates.

MVCC Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Frank Dubeck, Jr., praised VanWagoner’s impact. “Dr. VanWagoner has developed a culture at MVCC that is collaborative among faculty and administration, compassionate to the non-academic needs of our students, and delivers competencies needed by our employers. Continuing to improve on the academic success of our students to achieve a living wage is a driving goal of his administration. Dr. VanWagoner’s service to the community is not limited to his work at the College but the many local boards on which he serves. We are fortunate to have him.”

MVCC Board Vice Chair Wendy Waters added, “During his many years as MVCC president, Dr. VanWagoner has masterfully fostered an innovative, collegial, and collaborative college culture that has not only benefited our students and staff, but also our greater Mohawk Valley community. His expertise and insights regarding community college challenges and successes are sought out at a national level. We are pleased that Dr. VanWagoner and his family have been so dedicated to our local community, and although he never seeks the limelight for all that he does, we are so proud that he is being recognized with this well-deserved, prestigious honor.”

Throughout his 17-year tenure at MVCC, VanWagoner has led numerous innovative initiatives that have enhanced student services, academic rigor, and regional collaborations. Many of these programs have become models for community colleges across New York State and the nation, including:

• Achieving the Dream (ATD) Network: Under VanWagoner’s leadership, MVCC became New York State’s first community college to join the ATD Network, a data-driven initiative to identify and address achievement gaps among low-income and minority students. This effort, along with participation in the American Association of Community Colleges’ Guided Pathways 2.0 cohort and the federally funded Pathways to Graduation Title III project, significantly improved MVCC’s graduation rates, from 23% in 2014 to 34% in 2019 — the highest among SUNY two-year colleges.
• College-Community Connection (C3): He developed a framework to support students living below the poverty line, securing a $500,000 grant to establish C3, a hub that connects students with essential services and resources to help them focus on their studies.
• thINCubator: He established Oneida County’s first business startup accelerator and co-working space, which has facilitated the creation of 52 new entities and supported nearly 400 clients.
• Professional Development: VanWagoner expanded MVCC’s professional development programs, including the College’s institutes, annual core workshops, a Faculty Tech Academy, and partnerships with the University of Colorado-Denver’s Ed.D. program.
• Center for Leadership Excellence: Partnering with Leadership Mohawk Valley, VanWagoner established the Center for Leadership Excellence, offering leadership development for youth, inner-city neighborhoods, and board service.
• Free FastTrack Model: He introduced a free course model at MVCC that offers training for high-demand skilled jobs in the Mohawk Valley. Since January 2023, more than 1,400 students have enrolled, with an 80% completion rate.
• SUNY Apprenticeship Program: Under Dr. VanWagoner’s leadership, MVCC serves as the fiscal agent for the SUNY Apprenticeship program in Manufacturing and Information Technology, supporting over 1,400 pre-apprentices and 1,500 apprentices since 2018.

VanWagoner is also known for his national contributions to higher education. He has delivered numerous presentations across the country and authored insightful publications that address the challenges and opportunities facing two-year postsecondary institutions. His 2018 book, “Competing on Culture: Driving Change in Community Colleges,” offers critical insights for leaders aiming to transform their institutions and better serve students and communities.

Since 2016, VanWagoner has co-facilitated the national Strategic Horizon Network for community colleges, bringing together teams from nine institutions in seven states to explore disruption, vibrant cultures, and equity outside of education. He is a founding co-chair and current chair of the New York State Student Success Center Advisory Board, past chair of the New York Community College Association of Presidents, and an active member of the Career Systems Navigation Policy Task Force for the Jobs for the Future Policy Trust. His contributions as a member of the SUNY Design Team helped secure the Strong Start/Strong Finish Grant from the Gates Foundation, leading to reforms that have significantly improved student success across SUNY community colleges. He is a member of the NJCAA Foundation Board, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Manufacturing Imperative, and the Leadership and Educational Equity in Higher Education doctoral program Advisory Board at the University of Colorado at Denver. From 2010 to 2014, he served on the board of The Chair Academy, guiding leadership development programming for community college professionals. His personal commitment to learning is exemplified by his participation in the Aspen Institute’s Fellowship for Experienced Presidents and his completion of a Prompt Engineering certificate from Vanderbilt University.

VanWagoner’s dedication to MVCC and the broader community has earned him numerous accolades, including the Genesis Group Carucci Legacy Award (2022), Boy Scouts of America Community Leadership Award (2019), Continuing Education Association of New York Outstanding Continuing Educator Award (2018), NAACP Community Vision Award (2015), Phi Theta Kappa Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction (2012), and the Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency Visionary Award (2011).

Before joining MVCC, VanWagoner served in various leadership roles, including Chief Academic Officer at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Chief Student Affairs Officer at Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood, Colo., and Research Analyst at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Mich. A Michigan native, VanWagoner started college as a two-sport athlete at Mott Community College, later earning a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Oakland University in Rochester, Mich., and both his master’s and doctorate in Higher Education from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, with a focus on community college administration.