Dr. Jackie Elliott of Central Arizona College Receives Phi Theta Kappa’s Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction
Submitted by: PHI THETA KAPPA HONOR SOCIETY
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) has named Dr. Jackie Elliott, President of Central Arizona College, as a recipient of the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction, the Society’s highest honor for community college presidents. Dr. Elliott will be recognized during PTK Catalyst, Phi Theta Kappa’s annual international convention.
The Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction honors college presidents who have demonstrated sustained, exceptional commitment to student success through academic excellence, leadership development, and access to opportunity. Nominees must have served in their role for at least five years and are selected based on nominations submitted by Phi Theta Kappa students on their campus.
Since becoming president of Central Arizona College in 2015, Dr. Elliott has been a consistent and visible champion for student success, particularly for students navigating financial, geographic, and systemic barriers. Students describe her leadership as intentional and rooted in the belief that colleges must actively create pathways for students to grow, lead, and persist.
Throughout her presidency, Dr. Elliott has demonstrated a sustained commitment to ensuring that high-achieving students have access to opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. Her leadership reflects a belief that student success includes recognition, leadership development, and participation in broader academic communities—experiences that expand students’ aspirations and sense of belonging. Under her direction, Central Arizona College has cultivated a culture that encourages students to step forward, take responsibility, and represent their college with confidence.
Dr. Elliott’s approach to leadership emphasizes both access and expectation. She has consistently articulated a vision of student success that pairs opportunity with accountability, empowering students to see themselves as capable scholars and leaders prepared for what comes next.
“Dr. Elliott exemplifies the kind of leadership this award was created to honor,” said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. “She leads with clarity, purpose, and a deep understanding of how institutions can open doors—and then encourages students to walk through them.”
The Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction is named in honor of the late Dr. Shirley B. Gordon, Phi Theta Kappa’s longest-serving Board Chair and a lifelong advocate for community college students.
About Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa is the first honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 4.4 million members and nearly 1,250 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 220,000 active members in the nation’s colleges. Learn more at www.ptk.org
Contact: Makayla Steede, press@ptk.org