Robert Brown Distinguished Service Award
The Robert Brown Award is given to a CACCRAO member who has distinguished him or herself within the Admissions and Records profession. CACCRAO presents this award to recognize the outstanding contributions of individual CACCRAO members and to further the profession of Admissions and Records Officers within the California Community College system. It is a symbol of commitment to leadership, innovation and professional standards.
The award is named in honor of Robert Brown, the Registrar at San Jose Community College District during the 1970’s and 1980’s. He was so competent and driven that he held the title at two separate campuses within the district. Dr. Brown was well known for his generous and open personality – he connected with both students and staff. He would greet staff from every office on campus and knew all their names, even the names of their children. According to his son, for Dr. Brown it wasn’t enough to just do a great job as Registrar, it was important to maintain an expression of “humanity” with everyone he came in contact.
After his untimely death, the CACCRAO Board established this award to acknowledge a person each year who exemplifies Dr. Brown’s model of both professional competence within our field and a genuine caring spirit. Beginning in 1997, the first Robert Brown Award was presented to Gordon Newman from Santa Monica College. Over the years, CACCRAO has presented this award to more than a dozen distinguished colleagues.
2024-2025 Nomination Form
Deadline to submit: April 4, 2025.
Past Recipients
| YEAR | RECIPIENT | COLLEGE | YEARS OF SERVICE* |
| 2018-19 | Rita Grogan | West Hills Community College District | 23 years in education |
| 2017-18 | Elias Regalado | California Community College Chancellor’s Office | |
| 2016-17 | Sue Vaughn | Bakersfield College | 20+ years in CACCRAO20+ years in education |
| 2015-16 | Henry Villareal | College of San Mateo | 15 years in CACCRAO38 years in education |
| 2014-15 | Jasmine Ruys | College of the Canyons | 13 years in CACCRAO13 years in education |
| 2013-14 | Linda Miscovic | Santiago Canyon College | 20 years in CACCRAO20 years in education |
| 2012-13 | Alicia Terry | MiraCosta College | 20 years in CACCRAO29 years in education |
| 2011 12 | Bill Mulrooney | El Camino College | 12 years CACCRAO22 years in education |
| 2010- 11 | Debbie Rio | College of the Canyons | 24 years CACCRAO25 years in education |
| 2009-10 | Judy Young | Chabot College | 10 years CACCRAO40 years in education |
| 2008-09 | Dan Angelo | San Barnardino Valley College | 18 years CACCRAO33 years in education |
| 2007-08 | Joy Chambers | Cuesta College | 10 years CACCRAO37 years in education |
| 2006-07 | Don Mast | College of the Sequoias | 10 years CACCRAO36 years in education |
| 2005-06 | Kathy Kyne | De Anza College | 18 years CACCRAO40 years in education |
| 2004-05 | Elinda Gonzales | Mt. San Jacinto College | 23 years CACCRAO38 years education |
| 2003-04 | Jess Craig | Irvine Valley College | 20 years CACCRAO37 years in education |
| 2002-03 | Hal Bateman | Santa Ana College | 40 years CACCRAO40 years in education |
| 2001-02 | Helen Simmons | Chancellor’s Office | 22 years in CACCRAO28 years at CCCCO |
| 2000-01 | John Mullen | College of San Mateo | 18 years CACCRAO40 years in education |
| 1999-00 | Lynn Hanks | Mt. San Antonio | 19 years in CACCRAO34 years in education |
| 1998-99 | Gerry Fisher | Solano College | 13 years CACCRAO30 years in education |
| 1997-98 | Gary Stakan | Saddleback College | 20 years CACCRAO37 years in education |
| 1996-97 | Gordon Newman | Santa Monica College | 30 years CACCRAO40 years in education |
* Years of service represent those that transpired at the time of the award