College of the Canyons Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook has been named as the Pacesetter of the Year for Region 6 by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations. The Pacesetter of the Year award recognizes a president or CEO at a two-year community or technical college who has demonstrated leadership and support in the area of college communications and marketing.

Dr. Van Hook received the award at NCMPR’s conference held last week in San Diego.

“I am truly honored to accept the Pacesetter of the Year award,” said Dr. Van Hook. “The quality of marketing, advertising and communications directly impacts access for our students, the opportunities created for our students and the development of partnerships. Through the efforts and leadership of this essential component of the college, our college district becomes the bridge to opportunity for our community and together we build the foundation for the future.”

Dr. Van Hook has served as CEO of the Santa Clarita Community College District since 1988 and is currently the longest serving community college CEO in California.

COC was recently named one of the nation’s best colleges for adult learners by Washington Monthly magazine in its 2016 college rankings. Students at COC also transfer to universities at the highest rate of any two-year college in Los Angeles County.

Under her leadership, COC has increased facilities square footage five-fold, from 199,000 square feet on one campus to 950,000 on campuses in Valencia and Canyon Country.

The addition of the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center, named in her honor, in 2009 and the Institute for Culinary Education in 2015 have aided the career goals of students across the community.

“Dr. Van Hook is certainly deserving of this award for her steadfast contribution to community colleges,” said Juan Gutierrez, NCMPR District 6 Director. “She not only supports and recognizes the role of marketing in the mission of community colleges, but also actively participates in the outreach and messaging of her college and district.”

Dr. Van Hook was also recently selected by the local chapter of Zonta, an international women’s service organization, as their Woman of Honor.

Headquartered in New Mexico, NCMPR is a national organization governed by volunteer community college professionals that exclusively represents marketing and public relations professionals at community and technical colleges. NCMPR has more than 1,550 members from more than 650 colleges across the country, including Canada and other countries.

The Pacesetter Award is presented annually in each of NCMPR’s seven districts, and district winners are then considered for the national award.