Place 4: Term ends in 2016, Vice Chair.

Jeffrey K. Richard was first elected to the ACC Board of Trustees in 2004, was re-elected in 2010, and now serves as Board Vice Chair. Mr. Richard’s priorities for service include maintaining and strengthening ACC's accreditation with SACS; expanding opportunities for students throughout the region to pay less in ACC tuition by having their jurisdictions vote to join ACC; [roviding re-training services that enable adults to adapt to ever-changing marketplace demand; and pursuing new funding sources in order to enable more students to pay for community college education.

In 2005 Mr. Richard was named president and chief executive officer of the Austin Area Urban League, one of more than 100 affiliates of the National Urban League, whose mission is to assist African Americans and disadvantaged persons to achieve economic and social equality through educational achievement, employment readiness, health and wellness, and the preservation of affordable housing. Prior to joining the Urban League, Mr. Richard was vice president of education for the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, where he studied policy and monitored outcomes in K-12 academic achievement and success.

Mr. Richard has more than 17 years of consulting experience and has conducted performance improvement and technology consulting projects for school districts, local governments, and state agencies. Mr. Richard has reviewed a number of school district budgets and operations, including Dallas ISD, Houston ISD, North East ISD, Knox County (Tenn.) Public Schools, and Fairfax County (Va.) Public Schools. He also was part of the professional consulting team that reviewed the technology
infrastructure at Austin Community College as part of the Texas Comptroller's Performance Review. Additionally, he served as an adjunct faculty member in economics at Texas State University-San Marcos since 2001.

Mr. Richard was awarded a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from Texas Christian University, where he achieved Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude honors. He also earned a master's degree in urban economic development from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. In addition, Mr. Richard is a graduate of the Leadership Austin Class of 2001-02 and a licensed Christian minister, serving in an associate capacity at the St. James Baptist Church. He and his bride, Naomi, have a daughter.