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President Rafinski Wins National AwardPublished: 11/3/2008 Clark State President Dr. Karen E. Rafinski was named the nation's top community college chief executive officer by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) during its annual meeting in New York Friday night, October 31, 2008. Rafinski was given the Marie Y. Martin National Outstanding CEO Award. She was selected as the top CEO from more than 600 community colleges across the country. Prior to winning the top CEO award, Rafinski was named the 2008 Central Region Chief Executive Officer by the ACCT. The ACCT Central Region covers Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin. Dr. Rafinski has served as the President of Clark State for the past eleven years. During this time, Clark State has experienced the largest and most rapid enrollment growth in its history, bringing current totals to 3,600 credit students and an additional 4,000 non-credit students. Under her leadership, the College has opened two new academic buildings in the past year and completed a $12 million major gifts campaign that exceeded its fundraising goals by 71 percent. “Clark State’s success during the past eleven years can be credited to one person,” said James Doyle, Chair, Board of Trustees. “All of the initiatives leading to our growth have derived from the vision and leadership of Dr. Karen Rafinski.” In addition to above mentioned accomplishments, Dr. Rafinski has led academic growth in program development and assessment of student learning and spearheaded fundraising efforts resulting in the Clark State Foundation becoming one of the top community college foundation’s in the country based on assets. Among the twenty-three community colleges in the state of Ohio, Clark State’s Foundation ranks number one in assets per student. Throughout her career Rafinski has mentored seven current presidents in two year colleges when they were administrators in her cabinet, and was part of an initial group of women that truly “broke the glass ceiling” in community colleges. Dr. Rafinski is serving in her 22nd year of presidency, having been a president for five years at Rainy River Community College in International Falls, Minnesota; five years at Rochester Community and Technical College in Rochester, Minnesota; and serving in her twelfth year as President of Clark State Community College in Springfield, Ohio. She has held other positions in higher education over the past 36 years, including Resource Development, Program Development, Continuing Education, Academic Dean, Athletic Director, and Instructor of Physical Education and Health. Dr. Rafinski has also been a Fulbright Scholar to Germany and a Bush Foundation Fellow. MEDIA CONTACT:
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