Sierra College President Receives Statewide Award for Distinguished Community College Leadership

The Award Honors Leadership and Significant Contributions to the Local Community, Economy, Workforce and Equitable Access to Higher Education

Sierra College Superintendent/President Willy Duncan has been honored with the Harry Buttimer Distinguished Administrator Award by the Association of California Community College Administrators (ACCCA) for transformational community college leadership and significant contributions to the local community, economy, workforce, and equitable access to higher education.

“I am deeply humbled to receive this honor from California’s community college leaders,” said Duncan. “I have been fortunate to work with – and learn from – talented, innovative and visionary professionals at Sierra College, within Placer County and the greater Sacramento region, and alongside fellow community college leaders across California through ACCCA. What we accomplish, we accomplish together, and I appreciate the opportunities I have been given to make a positive impact for students, our region, and the community college system.”   

Susan Bray, Executive Director of ACCCA commented, “Willy Duncan is much loved by ACCCA and throughout our system, and it was a joy to see him get this recognition from ACCCA. We were fortunate to hear from his family and 2024 recipient, Ron Gerhardt, Chancellor of the Chabot Las Positas CCD, who all spoke in detail of his impact on the Sierra district, but also the community and especially his family and friends. As he leaves the ACCCA Board, but never our ACCCA family, he has set a standard for our organization and our Commission for Finance Legislation and Advocacy that he has chaired for over a decade.”

ACCCA established the Buttimer Award to honor the late Harry Buttimer, former Chancellor of the Contra Costa Community College District, and a leading advocate for the modernization of operating principles and practices, and the fair funding of California’s community colleges. The Buttimer Award is a prestigious, statewide honor that recognizes outstanding achievement by a California community college leader. As this year’s recipient, Duncan was recognized for his 15 years of leadership positions within the ACCCA organization, through which he has helped to provide leadership to other community college leaders and the system as a whole.

Specific to his tenure as the Superintendent/President of the Sierra Joint Community College District since 2011, Duncan was recognized for several achievements, including:

• Achieving historic student enrollment numbers
• Major reinvestment to modernize and expand its Rocklin campus, with new educational buildings, affordable student housing and gym facilities
• An innovative partnership with Sacramento State to plan and build a comprehensive joint campus in growing western Placer County
• Collaboration with law enforcement and fire agencies to develop a regional safety training center for public safety professions
• Workforce training programs, such as the collaboration with Bosch to help upskill associates who will work in the company’s silicon carbide wafer fab in Roseville
• Launch of LIFE, a new support program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Duncan was also recognized for his work with regional business, economic development and community-based organizations and leadership roles in statewide higher education organizations. In supporting ACCCA’s recognition, Sierra College community members submitted letters praising Duncan’s vision, integrity, innovation and empathy.

According to Sierra College Board of Trustees President Bob Sinclair, “President Duncan is deeply compassionate, consistently demonstrating a genuine commitment to the well-being and success of all members of the college community. He has made an indelible mark on our institution and our community, and his leadership continues to inspire and uplift everyone.”

About Sierra College

Sierra College is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3,200 square miles of Northern California with campuses in Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra College is ranked first in Northern California (Sacramento north) for transfers to four-year universities, offers career/technical training, and classes for upgrading job skills. Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information at www.sierracollege.edu.