Rufus Glasper, Ph.D., CPA, CGFM
Biography in Brief
Rufus Glasper, Ph.D. is Chancellor of the Maricopa Community Colleges, one of the nation’s largest multi-college systems. He has served in that role for five years, and previously held District leadership positions for more than two decades.
As the CEO, Dr. Glasper oversees all educational and administrative operations. He also provides leadership in matters of system-wide strategic planning, bringing all ten colleges and many learning centers into alignment with common goals and objectives.
A staunch advocate for educational access and opportunity, Dr. Glasper has clearly established “inclusiveness, engagement and respect” as the guiding principles of his administration.
Respected nationally as a community college leader, Dr. Glasper’s perspective and expertise in post-secondary education is regularly sought by federal policy makers. He was appointed by Arizona's governor to be co-chair of the P-20 Council, a group charged with improving education in Arizona and ensuring that more students graduate from high school, succeed in college, and are ready for the modern workforce.
An adjunct professor at Arizona State University, Dr. Glasper shapes future educational leaders through his graduate course in Higher Education Finance and Budget. Additionally, he counsels other community college leaders on finance and management, and serves as a mentor for the National Institute for Leadership Development and the Maricopa Community Colleges’ Women’s Mentor Program.
Dr. Glasper is an active community leader, serving on the boards of the Greater Phoenix Leadership, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and the Valley of the Sun United Way. He is a long standing member of the Greater Phoenix Urban League and the chairperson of the Board for Black Family Child Services.
Among his many honors, Dr. Glasper received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Living the Dream Award from the Phoenix Human Relation Commission in 2008 for championing student success as part of his commitment to human relations and social justice.
Rufus Glasper earned a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), and a Master’s and advanced degrees in school business administration from Northern Illinois University. He received his Doctorate of Philosophy degree in higher education finance from the University of Arizona. In May of 2005 he was the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate in Political Science from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.