STLCC-Florissant Valley campus president to receive the University of Montevallo National Alumni Association Award
Friday, February 9, 2024
On any given day, you can find Elizabeth Gassel Perkins, Ed.D., campus president and chief academic officer of St. Louis Community at Florissant Valley, wearing her favorite Archers’ blue.
The award recognizes an alum over 35 whose contributions through their career or community service reflects positively on society at the local, state or national level.
Perkins earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in prelaw from UM in 2004 and went on to earn a Master of Arts in English from UM in 2005.
From leading taskforces on developmental education redesign and waitlisting to serving on the College’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration committee among other College committees, Perkins has stayed busy serving students.
Shortly after accepting the campus president position in 2016, Perkins began leading and expanding the dual credit and dual enrollment programs, which now includes every school district in the St. Louis area.
Dual credit courses are college credit-bearing classes taught by high school teachers, usually at the student’s high school. The classes align with classes taught on STLCC campuses and provides students with a college-level experience that fits their schedules. Dual enrollment courses enable students to enroll in college courses while taking high school classes.
The flourishing programs, which at one time served hundreds of students, have grown 130% and now serves thousands.
“Elizabeth is very deserving of this great honor. It has been awesome to watch her lead at STLCC and in the community,” said her supervisor, Andrew Langrehr, Ph.D., vice chancellor for academic affairs at STLCC.
“Our students and the north St. Louis County community have benefited greatly due to Elizabeth’s dedicated service. Congratulations, Elizabeth!”
Perkins helped launch the Jump Start scholarship program, which provides up to six credit hours of dual credit coursework per semester for free for students eligible for free and reduced lunch.
She also helped create and administers STLCC’s Progress Attained through College Education program in partnership with St. Louis County Justice Services.
In one of the areas of the country with the highest recidivism rates, PACE provides individuals detained at the center with up to 24 credit hours of general education coursework while they await their court date.
Perkins’ contributions stretch beyond campus as she serves as an executive board member and past chair of North County Incorporated, current board member of the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce and vice chair of The SoulFisher Ministries.
In 2019, she received the Outstanding Education Award from North County Churches Uniting for Racial Harmony and Justice and was recognized by the Christian Hospital Foundation with a Drum Major Award in 2021. St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley earned North County Inc.’s 2021 Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award under her leadership.
Justin Averette, UM class of 2006, is not surprised at his classmate’s achievements.
“Having known Elizabeth since high school, I’ve witnessed her extraordinary journey in education and leadership,” said nominator Justin Averette. “Whether restructuring programs or overseeing diverse academic disciplines, she navigates educational challenges with remarkable grace and efficiency.”