Mary F. Spilde, PhD

Dr. Mary Spilde has served as president of Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon, since August 2001. She is a nationally respected authority on community colleges, workforce development and sustainability.

She joined Lane in 1995 as vice president for instructional services and in 1997 was named vice president for instruction and student services. Prior to Lane, she served in a variety of leadership positions for 15 years at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon, dean of business, health, and training.

Dr. Spilde has a bachelor's degree in business and social systems and a law degree from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and a master's in adult education and a doctorate in post-secondary education from Oregon State University.

Spilde is past chair of the American Association of Community Colleges board of directors and currently serves on their Sustainability Task Force and 21st Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges. Lane Community College is a League for Innovation in the Community College board college; Spilde serves as a board member and was co-editor of the League publication The Sustainable Community College: Holistic Approaches to Sustainability. She is a member of the Oregon Education Investment Board, a board member of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, and recently served on the steering committee for the American Presidents' Commitment to Climate Control.

She has won numerous awards including the Association of Community College Trustees CEO of the Year/Marie Y. Martin Chief Executive Award, 2011; Association of Community College Trustees Pacific Regional Chief Executive Officer Award, 2011; Outstanding Alumni Fellow, Oregon State University, 2009; Shirley B. Gordon President of the Year, Phi Theta Kappa, 2008; Carolyn Desjardins President of the Year, American Association of Women in Community Colleges, 2008; Tenison Haley Outstanding Individual Contribution Award for Diversity and Inclusion, 2004; and others.

She is a frequent presenter, author and spokesperson and has been quoted by The Washington Post, PBS Newshour, Chronicle of Higher Education and other media.