Rufus Glasper

Rufus Glasper, Ph.D., has served in that role since 2003 and previously held District leadership positions for more than two decades. As Chancellor, Dr. Glasper is the Chief Executive Officer of the 10-college District known commonly as The Maricopa Community Colleges, overseeing all educational and administrative operations. Dr. Glasper served from 2009-2012 as the Committee co-chair for the Lumina Foundation on Education's "Getting AHEAD" Initiative, a comprehensive and collaborative initiative by Arizona's education institutions, business community, and state government to reshape Arizona's post-secondary education system and enable more residents to successfully attain a college degree. From 2005 to 2009, Dr. Glasper served with (then) Governor Janet Napolitano as co-chair of the P-20 (Pre-kindergarten through graduate school) Council. Nationally, Dr. Glasper previously served as a member of the American Council on Education Commission on Higher Education Attainment, convened by the six presidential level higher education national associations to assess the need for improved college retention and attainment and to chart a course for improvement. In 2012, he was appointed to the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council, comprised of prominent university presidents and academic leaders charged with advising the Secretary and senior leadership at the Department on several key issues. Additionally, Dr. Glasper serves on the Air University Board of Visitors, the intellectual and leadership center of the Air Force that provides dynamic comprehensive education to prepare graduates to develop, employ, command, research, and champion air, space, and cyberspace power at all levels. He also serves on the Board for the League for Innovation in the Community College and RC-2020, a not-for-profit association of community college CEOs serving major metropolitan areas. Regionally, Dr. Glasper serves as a board member on the Higher Learning Commission. Dr. Glasper is an active community member, serving as a member of the Greater Phoenix Leadership and on the boards of the Arizona Community Foundation, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, The Valley of the Sun United Way, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences, Arizona Commerce Authority, and The O’Connor House. Dr. Glasper earned a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) and a Master’s and advanced degrees in school business administration from Northern Illinois University. He received his Doctorate of Philosophy degree in higher education finance from the University of Arizona.