Montgomery College President Named Advocate of the Year at County Hispanic Gala

Montgomery College President Dr. DeRionne P. Pollard was be the recipient of the "Advocate of the Year Award" at the 2013 Steering Committee of the Montgomery County Executive Hispanic Gala (MCEHG) gala celebration on September 12 at The Fillmore Silver Spring.

Dr. Pollard serves as president of Montgomery College, a three-campus community college in Montgomery County, Maryland where she oversees the education and student services for 60,000 credit and noncredit students.

"Dr. Pollard has a strong commitment to teaching and learning while providing equity and access to all students. She is a dynamic and accessible community leader that graces our educational system in Montgomery County," said Lorna Virgili, chair of the 2013 MCEHG.

Dr. Pollard serves on several boards, including Maryland Campus Compact, Montgomery County Business Development Corporation, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Universities of Shady Grove, the Tech Council of Maryland, and IMPACT Silver Spring. She is a member of the board of directors for Strathmore Music Hall, an arts center in North Bethesda, She is a graduate of the 2012 Leadership Montgomery Class. She has been honored as Washingtonian's 100 Most Powerful Women and as one of 25 CEOs You Need to Know from The Gazette of Politics and Business.

Dr. Pollard received her PhD in educational leadership and policy studies in higher education from Loyola University Chicago, and her MA and BA in English from Iowa State University.

The Montgomery County Executive Hispanic Gala is a volunteer-run event committed to assisting Hispanic youth achieve a high level of education. Funds raised support the Maryland Hispanic Achievement Scholarship Program which provides financial assistance to Hispanic students enrolled in Maryland higher learning institutions.

The Executive's Hispanic Gala served as the kick off Hispanic Heritage Month in Montgomery County and the State of Maryland.