MIAMI, April 14, 2026 — Miami Dade College (MDC) has received national accolades at the recent American Association Of Community Colleges (AACC) Awards of Excellence, among the highest honors in the field. Awards were presented at AACC’s annual Awards of Excellence gala, held this month in Seattle, Washington, in categories ranging from advancing institutional equity and belonging to CEO of the Year.
MDC was named the No. 1 college in the nation for Student Success, selected from more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide. The College also received individual recognitions for faculty, staff and alumni:
- Jorge Plasencia, Foundation Board Chair — Alumni of the Year
- M. Nia Madison, Ph.D.— 2026 Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty
- Dr. Carmen S. Concepción, dean, School of Education — Rising Star
- Dr. Kimberly Coffman — Finalist, Faculty Innovation
- Dr. Ernesto Lee — Finalist, Faculty Member of the Year
- Roberto Alonso — Finalist, Trustee of the Year
In total, MDC earned seven finalist nominations and four national awards, a strong reflection of the excellence across the institution. These honors are among the most respected in community college education, recognizing institutions and individuals driving meaningful impact nationwide.
About the American Association of Community Colleges
Since 1920, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) has been a leading organization for the nation’s predominantly associate degree-granting, regionally accredited institutions. The association hosts one of the largest gatherings of community college professionals, offering engaging speakers, relevant professional development and unparalleled networking opportunities.
AACC Annual provides access to the nation’s community college leaders, who collectively serve more than 40% of U.S. undergraduates. The conference fosters collaboration to address today’s most pressing challenges and identify innovative solutions to support student success.
For more information, visit https://www.aacc.nche.edu/