Dr. Richard Rhodes is the president and CEO of the Austin Community College District. He joined ACC in September 2011 after serving as president of El Paso Community College for 10 years.

A native of Alamogordo, New Mexico, Dr. Rhodes received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Master of Arts in Educational Management and Development from New Mexico State University. He earned his doctorate through the Community College Leadership Program (CCLP) at the University of Texas at Austin. CCLP honored Dr. Rhodes with its Distinguished Graduate Award in 2001.

Dr. Rhodes' commitment to student success is unparalleled. He works to improve pathways into higher education, strengthen awareness of the community college mission, and give students the tools to accomplish their educational, professional, and personal goals.

Since arriving at ACC, Dr. Rhodes has enhanced the college's partnerships, working closely with regional business and industry, other institutions of higher education, and school districts within ACC's service area. He is closely involved with the Early College High School program, which gives students at two Austin high schools an opportunity to earn up to an associate degree by high school graduation. Dr. Rhodes is working to increase degree and certificate completion rates for all students, recognizing graduation as among the many benchmarks worthy of celebrating in students' academic careers.

His professional associations include the American Association of Community Colleges' 21st Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges; the Formula Funding Advisory Committee for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; the Governor's Commission for a College-Ready Texas; and the Carnegie Foundation Board, among others.

Dr. Rhodes is active in the community, serving on the board of American YouthWorks as well as the economic development committees of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce. He also is a member of the board of ACC's Center for Public Policy and Political Studies.

Dr. Rhodes is a certified public accountant in Texas and New Mexico. He and his wife, Kate, have been married for more than 30 years, and they have four children and three grandchildren. Dr. Rhodes enjoys reading, golf, hiking, and spending time with his family.