Dr. Gilgour Named AACC CEO of the Year

Gilgour accepts the 2025 AACC CEO of the Year Award on April 15 during the organization's annual convention in Nashville, TN. (Photo: AACC)

Dr. Gilgour Named AACC CEO of the Year

Mineral Area College (MAC) proudly announces that its President, Dr. Joe Gilgour, has been recognized on the national level as the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) CEO of the Year. The award was announced Tuesday, April 15, during the AACC Annual Convention held in Nashville, Tennessee.  

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. Gilgour’s exceptional leadership and his profound impact on expanding educational opportunities and enhancing student success at Mineral Area College and throughout the broader community.  

“Receiving this recognition from the AACC is a tremendous honor,” stated Dr. Gilgour. “However, this award truly reflects the dedication and commitment of the entire Mineral Area College team – our faculty, staff, administration, and trustees. Their unwavering focus on student success is the foundation of all we have accomplished. I am privileged to lead such a talented and passionate group of individuals.”

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.

Since becoming MAC’s president in 2019, Dr. Gilgour has demonstrated a remarkable vision in broadening the college’s influence and service to the region. A key element of his strategic direction has been the significant expansion of the college’s reach, notably through the establishment of an outreach center in Cape Girardeau. This forward-thinking initiative, among others, has successfully reversed previous enrollment trends and opened pathways to high-quality, affordable education for a greater number of individuals.  

Dr. Gilgour’s dedicated leadership and effective advocacy at both the local and state levels have been pivotal in securing nearly $25 million in vital public and private funding over the past five years. These resources have been transformative, enabling a substantial expansion of MAC’s career and technical education programs.  

This significant funding has facilitated the addition of over 100,000 square feet of cutting-edge MAC Tech facilities dedicated to career-focused training on the main campus. Furthermore, Dr. Gilgour is actively championing plans to develop additional MAC Tech facilities in Ste. Genevieve and Cape Girardeau counties, directly addressing the evolving workforce needs of the region by equipping students with valuable, in-demand skills crucial for local industries.

Dr. Gilgour has also been committed to fair compensation and a positive work environment for MAC employees. His open-door policy and dedication to transparent communications ensure that faculty and staff have many opportunities to be heard, informed, and engaged. His implementation of a salary equity study has resulted in significant pay increases, and he fosters a servant-leadership culture among his staff that impacts the campus and surrounding community.

This commitment to cultivating opportunity and growth within the college is a direct reflection of Dr. Gilgour's own deeply held beliefs about the power of community colleges. With more than 20 years of experience in Missouri community colleges, his dedication to students is not just professional, but personal. Having grown up in a small town, raised by a single mother, he understands the challenges faced by many students seeking opportunity. This background has fueled his 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.