The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) established the HACU Hall of Champions to honor those who embody the mission of the Association through exemplary efforts “To Champion Hispanic Success in Higher Education.” The third and fourth inductees into the HACU Hall of Champions are Anna Solley, Ph.D., and Carlos Hernández, Ph.D, who were honored on October 28, 2013 during HACU’s 27th Annual Conference.
Dr. Anna Solley brings 36 years of higher education experience to her role as President of Phoenix College. A long-time Maricopa County Community College District administrator, she provides exemplary leadership in the complex environment of higher education today.
Dr. Solley’s extensive career exemplifies a lifetime commitment to the community college mission. With accomplishments as an instructional and administrative leader, she has developed expertise in every facet of college leadership. Dr. Solley assumed the role of Acting President of Phoenix College in January 2005 and was appointed President on April 25, 2006. Prior to serving in this capacity, she spent four years in the role of Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in the Maricopa Community College District (MCCD). During the years of 1989 through 2000 she served as the Dean of Instruction and as the Assistant Provost for Instruction and Student Services at Estrella Mountain Community College. Other experiences within MCCD include serving as Division Chair of Communications and Fine Arts, Reading Professor, and Instructional Design Facilitator at South Mountain Community College, the Basic Studies Coordinator and the Director of the Learning Assistance Center at Glendale Community College and serving as an adjunct faculty member for Northern Arizona University
Dr. Solley is a valuable contributor to both the Maricopa District and many local and national community college organizations. She currently serves on the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education, Arizona Women’s Employment and Education Board as Secretary, Arizona State University Downtown Business Advisory Council, National Community College Hispanic Council (NCCHC) Board as Past-President, Raul H. Castro Institute Advisory Committee and St. Joseph’s Hospital Community Advisory Board. In addition, she serves as a Consultant-Evaluator and as a member of the Institutional Actions Council (IAC) for the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association and has served in the past as the Maricopa Representative to the League for Innovation and as an AACC Board member. In addition, she is the Founding Board President of the National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs.
She was recognized in 1999 as the Outstanding Woman Leader at Estrella Mountain Community College and as an Outstanding Maricopa Employee by the Maricopa Foundation. In 2003 & 2004 the Arizona Woman Magazine featured Dr. Solley as one of the “Top 100 Women in Business” and in 2005 Avnet featured her as an exemplary mentor in “Avnet Honors the Women of Arizona”. The Arizona Republic and Latino Perspectives recognized her as an “emerging Latino leader” in 2005, and in 2006 she received the Latinas Celebrating Latinas Leadership Award. In 2003, she received the National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs (NACCTEP) President’s Award and in 2007 she received the Teacher Education Partnership Commission Gold Star Award. In June of 2010, she received the “Friend of PSA” award from the Professional Staff Association of the Maricopa Community Colleges for her outstanding support. Most recently she was honored by The Victoria Foundation with the Dr. Loui Olivas Distinguished Leadership in Higher Education Award, was featured by Arizona Magazine as a top business/education leader, and was recognized by the Arizona Cactus Pine Girl Scout Council as a Visionary Leader.
Dr. Solley holds a baccalaureate and master’s degree in Special Education and an Ed.D. in Higher and Adult Education from Arizona State University. She serves as the proud CEO at Phoenix College, a premier institution of higher education and the flagship of the Maricopa Community Colleges. Some of her notable accomplishments include spearheading significant enrollment growth efforts as well as fundraising efforts that have resulted in the awarding of many scholarships to students at PC. She has also provided executive leadership for successful teaching/learning initiatives, reaccreditation, and capital campaign and construction/remodeling projects. Dr. Solley has a passion for education and willingly serves as a mentor to employees and students. She is committed to student access and success and serves as a highly respected role model and champion for the college community.