HCC President Named Top CEO By Association of Community College Trustees

The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) has named Dr. Kate Hetherington, president of Howard Community College (HCC), as recipient of the 2014 Chief Executive Officer Award. The national award recognizes the outstanding contributions and leadership of Dr. Hetherington on behalf of community college trustees, students, faculty and staff. Dr. Hetherington received the award after her selection as the ACCT Northeast Region CEO. 

A community college graduate, Dr. Hetherington has served as president of HCC since 2007, leading an institution nationally recognized for its strong academic programs, innovative approaches to instruction, and strong student support services. Under her leadership, HCC has grown to 30,000 credit and noncredit students. Currently, one out of four graduates of the Howard County Public School System enrolls at HCC immediately after graduation.

“Thank you to ACCT for the honor of being selected as the 2014 CEO,” said Dr. Hetherington. “As a community college graduate, I know firsthand about the transformative effect that community colleges have on their communities. This award is only possible because of the support of Howard Community College trustees, faculty, and staff who are dedicated and passionate about providing pathways to success for students.”

Student-centered in her leadership, Dr. Hetherington is an advocate for learning and success, which contributed to HCC’s largest graduating class ever in 2014. She is committed to enhancing curriculum to strengthen students’ abilities, specifically adding new academic programs in high-demand fields and focusing faculty and staff on increasing completion among students. In 2013, the Governor of Maryland appointed Dr. Hetherington to serve a two-year term on the Maryland Education Council (Education Commission of the States). Additionally, she is the current chair of the Maryland Council of Community College Presidents.

Prior to her presidency, Dr. Hetherington served HCC as the executive vice president of student services and capital campaign manager, having been promoted from vice president of student services. Before joining HCC, she held progressively responsible positions at the Community College of Philadelphia, including dean of student systems.

Located in Washington, DC, ACCT is a nonprofit educational organization of governing boards, representing more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern over 1,200 community, technical and junior colleges in the United States.