READING, PA – Reading Area Community College proudly announces that its president, Dr. Susan Looney, has been recognized on the national level as the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) CEO of the Year. The award was announced Monday, April 14, during the AACC Annual Convention held in Seattle Washington. 

AACC is the primary advocacy organization for community colleges nationally. Representing nearly 1,200 two-year, associate degree-granting institutions and more than 12 million students, the AACC works to support and advance the nation's community colleges.

This accolade celebrates Dr. Looney’s exceptional leadership and her profound impact on expanding educational opportunities and enhancing student success at RACC and throughout the broader community.  

“I am deeply honored to be selected as the AACC CEO of the Year. This recognition is incredibly meaningful to me, but it truly belongs to the entire RACC community. I am privileged to do this work alongside the most dedicated and talented faculty and staff I have ever known,” says Dr. Looney.

The CEO of the Year award recognizes strong leadership through active engagement in shared governance; commitment to leadership development across the college; successful implementation of student success initiatives; effective advocacy at local and state levels; participation in statewide and national conversations on community college issues; service on relevant boards; demonstrated resilience; and prior recognition for effective leadership.

Susan Looney was a high school dropout who later attended community college. At the ceremony, she was honored for leading transformative work at RACC, which has more than quadrupled the graduation rate in eight years. 

Dr. Looney’s dedicated leadership and effective advocacy at both the local and state levels have been pivotal in securing millions in vital public and private funding since becoming president in 2018. These resources have been transformative, enabling a substantial expansion of RACC’s career and technical education programs.

This commitment to cultivating opportunity and growth within the college is a direct reflection of Dr. Looney’s own deeply held beliefs about the power of community colleges. Her dedication to students is not just professional, but personal. Noting her own educational background, she understands the challenges faced by many students seeking opportunity. This background has fueled her life’s work to ensure that community colleges serve as that crucial stepping stone, providing an affordable, quality, and accessible education for individuals looking for their chance to build a better future.

David Hessen
Director of Marketing & Communications
Reading Area Community College
610.607.6212
dhessen@racc.edu