Leading MTC Professor Recognized by National Group

Midlands Technical College (MTC) professor Dr. Robert Gilmer has earned the 2020 Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Southern Region Faculty Award. Gilmer is the Chair of the MTC Humanities Department, and his commitment to reaching students in a variety of teaching formats that best fits their individual needs is a model that the ACCT has recognized in awarding him the southern region faculty of the year.
 
Each year, the ACCT recognizes community college leaders who make a positive impact in higher education and communities.  Gilmer is a former Adjunct Faculty of the Year at MTC and worked closely on the college’s new Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). As a leader in the QEP, he created a “virtual backpack” that helps students prepare for success when taking online courses. Most recently, Dr. Gilmer led the way as MTC transitioned to alternative teaching methods during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
“Dr. Gilmer has played a vital role in the success and growth of Midlands Technical College during some of the most critical points of our school’s history,” said Dr. Ronald Rhames, president of Midlands Technical College. “Dr. Gilmer has consistently used his experience with technology to break down barriers and help make postsecondary education a more accessible and equal opportunity for students in our community.”
 
"Rob is the kind of professor who students love," said Dr. Barrie Kirk, MTC Provost. "He is a fantastic instructor. No matter whether he is teaching in-person at one of our six campuses,  or online, or virtually, he always provides students with a solid foundation of history."
 
"Community colleges and their leaders have been vital to our country's educational infrastructure and our workforce for over a century," said ACCT Chair and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Trustee Dawn Erlandson. "This year, perhaps more than ever before, community college leaders have proved themselves to be essential community service providers and educators in the face of unprecedented challenges and adversity."
 
The 2020 Regional ACCT Awards will be presented on October 8, 2020 during the 2020 ACCT Leadership Congress. Dr. Robert Gilmer and the other regional award recipients will be eligible for national recognition at the event, which will be hosted online.