The National Council for Marketing and Public Relations named COC Chancellor Dianne G. Van Hook as the area’s Pacesetter of the Year.

The Pacesetter of the Year award is awarded annually in each of the NCMPR’s seven districts to  recognize a president or CEO at a two-year community or technical college who has demonstrated leadership and support in the area of college communications and marketing.   

“Dr. Van Hook is certainly deserving of this award for her steadfast contribution to community colleges,” said Juan Gutierrez, NCMPR District 6 Director. “She not only supports and recognizes the role of marketing in the mission of community colleges, but also actively participates in the outreach and messaging of her college and district.”

Dr. Van Hook has served as CEO of the Santa Clarita Community College District since 1988, and is currently the longest serving community college CEO in the state. In some of her many achievements while overseeing the school, she has helped increase facilities square footage from 199,000 on one campus to 950,000 on the Valencia and Canyon Country campuses.

“The quality of marketing, advertising and communications directly impacts access for our students, the opportunities created for our students and the development of partnerships,” said Van Hook when accepting the award at NCMPR’s conference held in San Diego last week. “Through the efforts and leadership of this essential component of the college, our college district becomes the bridge to opportunity for our community and together we build the foundation for the future.”