BCC President Earns Leadership Honor

September 10, 2012 - Brevard Community College President, Dr. Jim Richey, has been named the 2012 “Community Leader of the Year” by the Brevard Bar Foundation.

The foundation presents the award annually to an individual who has “helped to improve and enhance public understanding of the law and of lawyers in our community.”

Richey, who became BCC president in January 2012, earned his law degree from The Ohio State University in 1988. He had a highly successful law practice in Melbourne before joining the College in 2008 in positions that included Executive Vice President and General Counsel.

Richey has also spent time as an adjunct professor. He taught a 2011 course on wills and trusts and is certified to teach an additional 19 courses in the fields of law and criminal justice.

“It’s very humbling to receive an award such as this, especially from my peers in the legal community,” said Richey. “I’m extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to lead Brevard Community College and work with its outstanding faculty, staff and students.”

In honoring Richey, the foundation cited his many accomplishments since he assumed the College’s top post.

They include putting BCC on the path to offer four-year Bachelor's Degrees starting in August 2013, a historic first in the college's 52-year history that will transform it into a state college.

He also opened a Career Planning and Development Center that has helped more than 8,000 students find their career paths and target courses to get their degrees.

Furthermore, Richey worked successfully to secure $14 million from the Florida Legislature for construction of a new Institute of Public Safety.

The institute will house the paralegal program and a Police Academy. It will also consolidate public safety programs in fire science, emergency medical technicians, criminal justice, criminal science, corrections and 911 operators.

“In all, Dr. Richey’s efforts have played a major role in making BCC one of the top community colleges in the state and nation,” foundation officials said.

Richey will be presented with the award and be the featured speaker at the Brevard Bar Foundation’s 4th Annual Award Dinner on Oct. 4 at the Eau Gallie Yacht Club.

Tickets for the dinner may be purchased on the foundation's website at brevardbarfoundation.org. The cost is $45 per person or $500 for a table. Event sponsorships are also available.

For registration or additional information, call the law office of Michael Kahn at 321-242 2564.