Highlighting MHCC’s Strategic Growth & Equity Innovation

Mt. Hood Community College Receives National Award for Exemplary CEO & Board Partnership

(left to right): Board Member, ShaToyia Bentley, Board Chair, Diane McKeel, MHCC President, Dr. Lisa Skari, and Board Vice Chair, Andrew Speer

Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) has been named the national recipient of the 2025 Exemplary CEO/Board Relationship Award by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). This distinguished recognition was announced April 15, 2025, during AACC’s national conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

The award honors MHCC’s outstanding collaboration between President Lisa Skari, Ed.D., and the college’s elected Board of Education. Together, they have led the college through pivotal advancements - including stabilizing the college budget, increasing enrollment, adopting a new strategic plan, launching an applied baccalaureate degree, and receiving national accolades for equity leadership.

“This award affirms what we know to be true at MHCC: strong, community-rooted leadership creates opportunity,” said President Skari. “I am able to do what I need to do for our students because of the partnership I have with our Board.”

The award’s criteria emphasized strong governance practices, such as:

• Ongoing, substantive professional development for board members

• A responsive, goal-oriented presidential evaluation process

• Strategic visibility and regional impact

• Policy advocacy at the local, state, and national levels

MHCC’s Board of Education is comprised of elected representatives from across the college district - from Government Camp to Sandy, Gresham to Troutdale, Corbett to East Portland, and all the communities in between. In recent years, the Board and president have worked together to increase outreach to city councils, school districts, business leaders, and community organizations, ensuring decisions are informed by broad public input.

This collaborative approach helped shape key college initiatives, including a district-wide facilities master plan and, most recently, a bond package aimed at modernizing aging campus infrastructure. The college has not passed a capital bond in over 50 years, but thanks to shared vision and step-by-step governance planning, MHCC will appear on local ballots this May.

“The partnership between our president and Board reflects our mission to serve this region with transparency, accountability, and deep community connection,” said Diane McKeel, Board Chair of the MHCC Board of Education. “This award is truly a reflection of the work we’ve done together - and the work still ahead.”

The AACC represents more than 1,000 community colleges and nearly 12 million students nationwide. MHCC is proud to be recognized among the nation’s best for leadership, vision, and service.