Dr. Becky Askew receives national honor

 Dr. Becky Askew               POPLARVILLE – Dr. Becky Askew, Vice President for Planning and Institutional Research for Pearl River Community College, received the 2014 Mildred Bulpitt Woman of the Year award by the American Association of Women in Community Colleges.
            Mildred Bulpitt, was a founding member of AAWCC and a passionate advocate for women in leadership in community colleges and beyond.
According to the AAWCC, the Bulpitt Award is bestowed upon a woman who has an outstanding record of service to women in the two-year college setting. Additionally, she must be a woman whose service to women in two-year colleges deserves national recognition as a role model for two-year college women throughout the country.
          “If ever there was a person who has demonstrated a capacity for leadership and whose attitude, values, and actions portray a broader notion of how she inspires positive changes in her work environment and community, it is Dr. Askew,” said PRCC President William Lewis.
            “Her experience as a veteran educator has proved to be a valuable asset to PRCC as well as the community.”
            Dr. Askew received her award Monday, April 7, at the annual AAWCC awards breakfast in Washington, D.C.
            “Receiving this award has given to me the opportunity to thank my colleagues and my family for their encouragement and assistance throughout the years,” said Dr. Askew. “I believe that any success that I have had is because of team work.
“I accepted the award on behalf of the many strong women who have guided me throughout my life and on behalf of the women at Pearl River Community College who work to ensure that our students are successful and have a bright future.”
           As PRCC’s Vice President for Planning and Institutional Research, Dr. Askew serves as the SACSCOC accreditation liaison for the college and coordinates strategic planning efforts, personnel evaluations, grant proposals, and professional development activities for faculty, staff, and administrators. In her various roles, she encourages women on campus to continue their education in order to achieve leadership positions.
Dr. Askew has served as the chair of PRCC’s annual Women’s Health Symposium since its beginning in 2007. She leads the planning of all aspects of the Symposium, giving numerous women at the College and in the community the opportunity to serve in leadership positions.  Outstanding speakers inspire and motivate approximately 450 women not only to take action to improve their health and the health of their family members, but also to lead more productive and fulfilling lives.
She was the second woman to serve as President of the Rotary Club of Poplarville and provided leadership and training for female presidents who followed her.  She served as Governor of Rotary District 6840, composed of Rotary Clubs in South Mississippi and Southeastern Louisiana, and has participated in the training of Rotary Governors in regional activities.
Dr. Askew also serves as board member and treasurer of the Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation. She encourages and promotes grant activities for women and others throughout the Lower Pearl River Valley region.  She was named Administrator of the Year by the PRCC Association of Educational Office Professionals and served as Chair of the PRCC Honors Institute Steering Committee.
The AAWCC, organized in 1973, proclaims on its website that it is the leading national organization that champions women and maximizes their potential.

Each community college president is asked to bring two (2) wrapped door prizes, minimum value of $50 each. We will have a station set up at the conference for you to drop off the door prizes.

Each community college is asked to provide name tags for their Board members, administration, and staff attending the conference.