At Reynolds Community College, student success is more than a goal — it is a shared commitment guiding decisions across classrooms, advising offices, and campus services. That commitment has now earned national recognition.
Reynolds has been named a Leader College by Achieving the Dream (ATD), a prestigious designation awarded to community colleges demonstrating measurable progress in helping students start strong, persist in their studies, and achieve meaningful academic and career outcomes.
The recognition places Reynolds among a select group of colleges nationwide acknowledged for using data, collaboration, and innovation to improve student success while expanding access to higher education.
“This recognition reflects Reynolds’ deep commitment to ensuring every student has the support and opportunity needed to succeed,” said Dr. Paula Pando, president of Reynolds Community College. “Our faculty and staff work every day to remove barriers, strengthen pathways, and create an environment where students can achieve their academic and career goals.”
A national network focused on student success
Reynolds joined the ATD Network in 2022, beginning a focused effort to strengthen institutional practices that support students from enrollment through graduation. The network includes more than 300 community colleges across the country working together to improve outcomes, particularly for students who have historically faced barriers to higher education.
Through coaching, peer collaboration, and strategic planning support, ATD helps colleges examine how policies, programs, and services impact student progress. The organization’s approach emphasizes aligning leadership, data, equity, and student support strategies to create lasting institutional change.
Leader Colleges are recognized for demonstrating meaningful progress in expanding access, improving early momentum indicators such as retention, implementing evidence-based student success initiatives, and building institutional capacity for continuous improvement.
According to President and CEO of Achieving the Dream, Dr. Karen A. Stout, the designation highlights institutions that are translating strategy into measurable results.
“The 2026 Leader Colleges demonstrate sustained commitment and measurable progress in advancing student success,” Stout said. “By using data to guide decisions and continuously strengthen their practices, these institutions are producing real gains in student outcomes and deepening their impact in the communities they serve.”
Turning strategy into action
Since joining the network, Reynolds has strengthened collaboration across departments to better support students at every stage of their academic journey. Faculty, advisors, and staff have worked together to evaluate student experiences, identify challenges, and implement solutions designed to improve persistence and completion.
These efforts include refining advising practices, strengthening academic pathways, and ensuring students have access to the resources they need early in their college experience — key factors shown to improve long-term success.
Dr. Pando emphasized that the recognition reflects collective effort across the institution.
“This achievement belongs to our entire Reynolds community,” she said. “From faculty redesigning learning experiences to staff enhancing student services and leaders using data to guide improvements, everyone plays a role in helping our students succeed.”
Supporting students — and the region
As a two-year public institution serving Central Virginia, Reynolds provides accessible, high-quality education through transfer programs, workforce credentials, and career and technical education aligned with regional workforce needs. Partnerships with local employers and community organizations help ensure students graduate prepared for in-demand careers while contributing to the region’s economic vitality.
The Leader College designation underscores how community colleges can serve as engines of opportunity — connecting education, workforce development, and economic mobility.
The recognition also reflects Reynolds’ broader mission: creating pathways that allow students from diverse backgrounds to pursue education and build better futures for themselves and their families.
A milestone — and a beginning
While the designation celebrates progress, Reynolds leaders view it as part of an ongoing journey rather than a final destination.
“Achieving the Dream challenges colleges to continually ask how we can serve students better,” Dr. Pando said. “This recognition motivates us to keep innovating, strengthening outcomes and expanding opportunities for the communities we serve.”
As Reynolds continues its work within the ATD Network, the focus remains on continuous improvement — using evidence, collaboration, and student-centered practices to ensure learners not only enroll, but thrive.
For students across Central Virginia, the honor signals growing momentum at Reynolds and a reaffirmed promise: that higher education can be accessible, supportive, and transformative.