Award given through Phi Theta Kappa, named for SCC President and CEO Dr. Jo Marshall
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| Dr. Jo Marshall, President and CEO of Somerset Community College, third from left, is shown with Dr. Rod Risley, Executive Director and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, second from left, at the presentation of the inaugural Jo Marshall Leadership Award Endowment. Also shown are two of Dr. Jo Marshall’s children, Dr. Scott Marshall, left, and Kristin Marshall Henderson, second from right, and Judy Marshall Wallace, sister of Dr. Marshall’s late husband Dr. Scott Marshall. |
Phi Theta Kappa is an honor society for community college students. Dr. Marshall has been involved in the organization for several years. She served as an advisor for the Pi Pi Chapter at Jefferson State Community College for more than 30 years, as Alabama Regional Coordinator, as the Regional Coordinator Representative and Vice Chair of the Phi Theta Kappa Board of Directors and as Vice Chair of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation Board of Trustees. Dr. Marshall has also been honored by PTK as a Faculty Scholar, Distinguished Regional Coordinator and Giles Distinguished Advisor. Dr. Marshall was one of the first recipients of the Mosal Award and is an International Honorary Member of Phi Theta Kappa.
The Jo Marshall Leadership Award Endowment (Marshall Award), was created to encourage the professional growth of Phi Theta Kappa advisors at community colleges. The award carries a $5,000 stipend for the completion of a project that leads to personal leadership growth beyond the completion of professional degrees.
The first Marshall Award was given to Professor Velda Arnaud, Business Instructor at Lane Community College in Oregon. Arnaud, who also serves as Phi Theta Kappa’s Rocky Mountain-Cascade Regional Coordinator, was selected as a Marshall Award winner for her project, Leadership Tour: A United States lecture tour to deliver workshops on various leadership topics. Professor Arnaud will deliver workshops on topics such as leading with integrity, bridging the generation gap, professional social networking and designing a professional development plan.
“It is only appropriate that Phi Theta Kappa's most prestigious leadership development award carry the name of Jo Marshall. Dr. Marshall has served in nearly every leadership post in Phi Theta Kappa -- embracing each as a means by which to make Phi Theta Kappa stronger for all stakeholders,” said Phi Theta Kappa Executive Director Dr. Rod Risley. “She has demonstrated through her career that leadership can be taught, and that opportunity should be given whenever possible for others to realize their leadership potential. The Marshall Awards serve to raise aspirations of our chapter advisors to step forward, lead and serve.”