February 28, 2025

East Mississippi Community College Vice President of Instruction Dr. James Rush is among a select group who will receive Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s “Distinguished College Administrator” award.

“The award recognizes college administrators working directly with student leaders to solve problems on campus and in their communities,” the PTK website states. “They have taken an active interest in supporting high-achieving students and developing student leaders.”

Each year, Distinguished College Administrator award recipients are recognized at PTK’s annual convention, which will take place April 3-5 this year at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

The final list of recipients of the Distinguished College Administrator awards for 2025 has not yet been released yet. Last year, there were 23 recipients who “were selected from among thousands of college administrators eligible to receive the award,” according to a press release on the PTK website.  

Rush was nominated for the award by EMCC student members of PTK. In a letter to Rush announcing his selection for the award, PTK President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner commended his commitment to the success of students.

“They see and appreciate your dedication – both inside and outside the classroom ­– knowing you support their learning and success of others like them,” Tincher-Ladner wrote. “Because of you, they have a richer, more meaningful college experience.”

The Distinguished College Administrator awards will be presented April 4 in front of thousands of attendees at the PTK convention. Titled “Catalyst 2025: Empowering Community,” the event will include PTK student members, alumni, chapter advisors and college administrators from across the country. Last year, more than 4,000 people attended the annual convention.

“I am honored and elated to be selected as a recipient of this award,” Rush said. “It is very rewarding and fulfilling to be able to support our students. Student success is dear to me, and many of our PTK students work to assist us as administrators to ensure that student success is at the forefront of what we do every day here at EMCC.”

Rush, who is an EMCC alumnus, was inducted into the college’s Scooba chapter of PTK as a student in the early 2000s. He has worked for EMCC since 2007 and has served in numerous capacities as an instructor, advisor and counselor. In 2019, he was named interim vice president of instruction. In July of 2020, he officially assumed the position of vice president of instruction.

“James has done a phenomenal job at EMCC. and this award is testament to his commitment to ensuring our students receive the best education possible,” said EMCC President Dr. Scott Alsobrooks, who is a 2020 recipient of the PTK Paragon Award, which is presented to college presidents who demonstrate a strong support for student success. “To receive national recognition by PTK is an honor, and we couldn’t be more proud of James for this achievement.”

Phi Theta Kappa is the world’s largest honor society for students enrolled in two-year-colleges. Students invited to join must generally have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

EMCC has two PTK chapters: the Eta Upsilon chapter on the Scooba campus and the Beta Iota Zeta chapter on the Golden Triangle campus. This month, both chapters earned PTK’s REACH Rewards designation for excelling in membership development through efforts to invite new members, engage with potential PTK members and follow-up with invitees.