The Salt Lake Chamber, Utah’s largest and
longest-standing statewide business association, has announced Dr. Deneece G. Huftalin as the 2017 ATHENA Leadership Award recipient. The ATHENA Leadership Award
is a prestigious national award presented annually to an active member of the
Salt Lake Chamber who demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in
business. Each recipient must also provide valuable service by devoting time
and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community and
assist women in reaching their full leadership potential.
“Deneece is a collaborator, a leader, and she
inspires everyone around her. She is one of those rare individuals who go
beyond the call of duty,” said Lane Beattie, president and CEO of the Salt Lake
Chamber. “She is bright, articulate, caring, and helps not only her students,
but her community at every opportunity. What she has done with Salt Lake
Community College has been phenomenal. She’s not only helping create the
workforce of today, but she’s helping shape the workforce of tomorrow.”
Dr. Deneece Huftalin was named the eighth president
of Salt Lake Community College in September 2014. Prior to her current role,
Huftalin served as Salt Lake Community College’s Interim President, Vice President
of Student Services, Dean of Students, and Director of Academic and Career
Advising. In her tenure as president, Huftalin has launched a College-wide
strategic planning cycle that has produced a new vision, mission, values, and
strategic goals for the College. She is also leading efforts to strengthen
completion rates, transfer pathways, workforce responsiveness, and equity in
student access and completion.
Huftalin also has taught in the Education,
Leadership, and Policy program at the University of Utah and serves on a number
of community boards and committees including the Salt Lake Chamber, Governor’s
Education Excellence Commission, EDCUtah, Envision Utah, and Utah Campus
Compact. Nationally, Dr. Huftalin serves as a Commissioner and Executive
Committee member for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
(NWCCU), a trustee for LeaderShape, and a member CEO for RC-2020, Inc.
“What an honor it
is to be recognized by the Salt Lake Chamber as an ATHENA Leadership Award
recipient,” said Huftalin. “I'm proud to be associated with such a remarkable
group of women who have been honored before me!”
In addition to recognition as the ATHENA Leadership
Award recipient, Huftalin has been awarded the 2017 Leadership in Education
Award from the Utah Women’s Leadership Celebration, the 2016 Distinguished
Alumna Award from the University of Utah, and the Distinguished Woman of the
Year Award from the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Salt Lake
City branch in 2015.
The ATHENA Leadership Award will be
officially presented to Huftalin at the 41st Annual Salt Lake
Chamber Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon on November
15, 2017 at the Little America.
*Reprinted courtesy of Salt Lake Chamber
*Reprinted courtesy of Salt Lake Chamber