West Orange Professor Gets Leadership Award

West Orange, NJ – West Orange resident Akil Khalfani, director of Essex County College's Africana Institute, is the recipient of The Chair Academy's 2016 International Exemplary Leadership Award.

The award recognizes the recipient's “ability to advance academic and administrative leadership,” according to a news release.

Khalfani, a social sciences professor, received his award during The Chair Academy's 25th annual International Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

In her nomination, Dean of Liberal Arts S. Aisha Steplight Johnson called Khalfani an "exceptional leader who is able to work with a diverse group of students, staff and faculty at Essex County College."

"Dr. Khalfani is also a community leader who has used relationships to effectively strengthen the ties between the college and the community," Johnson wrote.

The Chair Academy is housed at the Maricopa County Community College District's Mesa Community College in Arizona. It offers competency-based, leadership development programs for college and university administrators and faculty.

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Photo: Akil Khalfani