Kay McClenney, Ph.D.

Director, Center for Community College Student Engagement
Faculty, Community College Leadership Program (CCLP)

Kay McClenney is Director of the Center for Community College Student Engagement and a faculty member in the Community College Leadership Program (CCLP) at The University of Texas at Austin. The Center conducts the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) and the Survey of Entering Student Engagement (SENSE) and has now surveyed nearly two million community college students at over 800 colleges in 50 states. Dr. McClenney also directs the Center’s Initiative on Student Success, a long-term student focus group research initiative supported by the MetLife Foundation and Houston Endowment Inc.

Also within the CCLP, she is senior consultant to the UT/CCLP Achieving the Dream work and co-director of Student Success BY THE NUMBERS, funded by the Greater Texas Foundation. She was co-director of CLASS ─ the California Leadership Alliance for Student Success and of the national Bridges to Opportunity initiative. She previously served for 10 years as Vice President and chief operating officer of the Education Commission of the States.

Dr. McClenney has served as a consultant to education institutions, state higher education systems, state government, and professional associations in 47 states and internationally. In addition, she served for a number of years as a community college educator, during which she was a faculty member, program director, system administrator, and interim CEO. A frequent keynote speaker, Dr. McClenney also has authored numerous publications on education issues, strategic planning, accountability, student success and leadership. 

Dr. McClenney has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and the Executive Board of the American Association of Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC). She received the 2002 PBS O’Banion Prize for contributions to teaching and learning in America, the 2009 Mildred Bulpitt Woman of the Year Award from the American Association of Women in Community Colleges, the 2009 International Leadership Award from NISOD, and the 2011 National Leadership Award from AACC. She co-chairs AACC’s 21st Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges.

Educational Background: Dr. McClenney earned her Ph.D. in educational administration from the Community College Leadership Program at The University of Texas at Austin. Her previous degrees are a B.A. from Trinity University and an M.A. in Psychology from Texas Christian University.