Business Director Receives AC’s prestigious Mead Faculty Award 

Rashmi Pillai, AC’s program coordinator for business technology, was awarded the prestigious 2024-2025 John F. Mead Faculty Excellence Award. She received AC’s foremost faculty accolade during commencement exercises May 9 at the Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium. 

“I was so shocked and almost tripped walking to the stage,” Pillai said. “You don’t do this work for awards, but it was such a nice sentiment from students and colleagues. Thank you to all who nominated me.” 

The Award is given annually to two outstanding members of the faculty who have had a particularly positive impact on students, the College, and the community. It is named after a remarkable former AC president, whose unique contributions included leading the College over an 11-year span during the challenging 1930s and 40s, serving in the armed forces during World War II, and returning to AC in the 1960s to teach full time.

“There is no doubt that Rashmi deserves the John F. Mead Faculty Excellence Award, our highest faculty recognition,” Dr. Frank Sobey, AC’s vice president of academic affairs, said. “Her commitment to student success is absolute and inspiring to the entire College community.”

Pillai was selected for the award based on multiple nominations solicited by the Mead Award committee from students, faculty and staff. Pillai was characterized by one student nominator as “showing up every day with a positive attitude, bringing warmth and enthusiasm to the classroom”. Pillai also serves as the advisor for the Billionaires Club and helped the group create their first on-campus fair for entrepreneurs called Innovate U.  

“Her passion for education is evident in the way she engages with students—always ready to go the extra mile to ensure they succeed,” another nominator said of Pillai.