Biography
Dr. Richmond earned a Bachelor of Science in Vocal Music and Education from Philander Smith College in 1960 and received certification from University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (formerly Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical and Normal College) in 1962. He completed postgraduate study in linguistics at Wichita State University in 1966, followed by a Master of Arts in 1970 and a Doctor of Education in 1973 from Ball State University. Dr. Richmond began his career as an elementary school teacher in Sparkman, Arkansas, in 1960 and later taught secondary school in Star City (1960–1964), Wabbaseka (1964–1969), and Wynne (1969–1971), also serving as an assistant principal. From 1971 to 1973, he served as assistant to the administrative assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs at Ball State University. In 1973, he joined Arkansas State University as Coordinator of University College and became Dean of University College in 1975. During his tenure, he also served as Associate Professor of Education (1975–1980), Professor of Education (beginning in 1981), and Vice President for University Relations (beginning in 1981). He was a member of the University Council of Academic Deans beginning in 1975, served on the president’s staff from 1975 to 1977, and became a member of the Southern Regional Education Board in 1982. Dr. Richmond served as interim president of Arkansas State University in the summer of 1994 until his unexpected passing in late fall of the same year.

Award Description
Following his unexpected passing in 1994, the Executive Board of the Arkansas Student Affairs Association (ArSAA) established the Mossie J. Richmond, Jr. Outstanding Leadership Award to honor his legacy of service and leadership in the founding and development of the association. The award recognizes outstanding student affairs professionals from Arkansas who have made significant contributions to ArSAA and the field of student affairs. Recipients must have demonstrated leadership through service in professional organizations, with particular emphasis on their work and involvement with ArSAA.

Honorees
1994: Dr. Mossie J. Richmond, Jr., Arkansas State University
1995: Mr. Don Schumacher, University of Arkansas
1996: Dr. Don Haefner, Southern Arkansas University
1997: Mrs. Fayne Porter, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
1998: Dr. Charles Donaldson, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
1999: Mr. Ben Pickard, Arkansas State University - Beebe
2000: Dr. Suzanne Gordon, University of Arkansas
2001: Dr. Jack Lassiter, University of Arkansas at Monticello
2002: Mr. Preston Slayden, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
2003: Dr. Roger Lee, Arkansas State University
2004: Dr. Gary Gaston, University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton
2005: Mr. Paul Hankins, Henderson State University
2006: Dr. Lonnie Williams, Arkansas State University
2007: Dr. Charles Donaldson, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
2008: Dr. Donna Allen, Southern Arkansas University
2009: Dr. Mary Robertson, Arkansas State University Newport
2010: Dr. Rick Stripling, Arkansas State University
2011: Mr. Brian Berry, University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville
2012: Mr. Darryl McGee, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
2013: Mr. David Mayes, Arkansas State University - Beebe
2014: Dr. Jan L. Austin, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
2015: Mrs. Marsha Norvell, University of Arkansas
2016: Dr. Brad Patterson, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
2017: Robin Hayes, Arkansas State University - Beebe
2018: Mary Alice Serafini, University of Arkansas
​2019: Dr. Ashley Buchman, Arkansas State University Newport
​2020: John Fincher, University of Central Arkansas
2023: Dr. Veneta Fricks, University of Central Arkansas
2024: Jason Smith, J.D., Black River Technical College
2025: Dr. Lori Lander,University of Arkansas

Biography
Dr. Donaldson, a dedicated educator, earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Philander Smith College, a Master of Education in Counseling from the University of Central Arkansas (formerly State College of Arkansas at Conway), and a Doctor of Education in Counseling from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He also completed the Institute for Management Education at Harvard University. Dr. Donaldson began his career at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1973 as a counselor and advanced through several leadership roles, including Director of Career Planning and Placement, Associate Vice Chancellor for Educational and Student Services, Dean of University College, and ultimately Vice Chancellor for Student Services until his retirement in 2013. During his tenure, he expanded key student success programs such as Cooperative Education and TRIO, securing more than $16.5 million in federal funding. He also helped establish initiatives including the African-American Male Initiative and expanded the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps. In recognition of his significant contributions, the Student Services Center and the Upward Bound program at the UA Little Rock are named in his honor.

Award Description
The ArSAA Executive Board created a new award in 2001 to recognize outstanding new professionals with less than five years of experience in student affairs fields in the state of Arkansas. Nominations for this award must be made by an ArSAA member. Graduate school, internships, or student assistant positions will not be considered professional experience

Honorees
2001: Vanessa Lewis, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
2002: Curtis Wright, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
2003: Wendy Holbrook, University of Central Arkansas
2004: Sandra Smith, Southern Arkansas University
2005: Eric Hudson, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
2006: Amber Long, Arkansas State University
2007: Jordan O'Roak, Henderson State University
2008: Shereada Herrell, Arkansas State University
2009: Brad Patterson, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
2010: Ronald Hudson, Arkansas State University - Beebe
2011: Amber Grady, Arkansas State University Newport
2012: Tracy Collier, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
2013: Catherine Burton, Arkansas State University - Beebe
2014: Amber Smith, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
2015: Marc Glidden, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
2016: Nathaniel Pyle, Arkansas State University - Beebe
2017: Michael Kornegay, Southern Arkansas University
2018: Waylon Metoyer, Philander Smith College
2019: Luke Hams, Arkansas Tech University
​2020: Stacy Galbo, Arkansas Tech University
2023: Sharon Brown, University of Central Arkansas
2024: Maxwell Parker, Hendrix College
2025: Mary Margaret Debow, University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College

Award Description
The purpose of this award is to recognize a master's-level graduate student for achievement, involvement, and potential for leadership in an emerging student affairs professional.

Nominee requirements for this award are as follows:
- The nominee must be a master's-level graduate student enrolled in a higher education, student affairs, college student personnel, or related graduate program within the state of Arkansas.
- The nominee must have an intent to pursue a career in the field of higher education and/or student affairs.
- The nominee may not be a current full-time employee of an institution.

To be selected, the following criteria must be met:
- Made a significant contribution to their campus
- Demonstration of academic achievement
- Exceeded the expectations of their respective graduate student position
- Assumed a leadership role at their institution and/or at a state/regional/national level
- Demonstrated a potential for substantial contributions to the student affairs profession

Preference will be given to students who also have a graduate assistantship or internship experience in a student affairs (or related) office.

Honorees
2019: Daniel Riviera, Arkansas Tech University
2020: Trevis Belle, University of Central Arkansas
2023: Madison Evans, University of Central Arkansas
2024: Maggie McGowen, University of Central Arkansas
2025: Lynnlee Mitchell, Arkansas Tech University

Award Description
The purpose of this award is to recognize an institution that has developed and implemented a program which results in improved educational activities, services, or management for an individual campus community.

Nomination Requirements:
This award is given to an institution for responding to a campus need in creating an innovative solution through a program, event, service, intervention, initiative, etc. The award proposal will ask for a nomination letter from an institutional contact describing the innovative program. In addition, up to two additional letters of support can be provided.

The selection criteria for this award are as follows:
- Encouragement of diverse and/or multiple subgroups to participate
- Addressing a demonstrated need on campus
- Contain an evaluation/assessment component
- Adaptability to other institutions
- Demonstration of financial creativity or cost effectiveness
- Involvement with a collaboration of other departments at the institution
- Enhancement of student learning

Honorees
2019: Hendrix College, SOS and SOAR Program
2020: University of Central Arkansas, Minority Mentorship Program
2023: University of Central Arkansas, Bear Truth Social Norming Campaign
2024: Southern Arkansas University, SAU Autism Support Network
2025: University of Arkansas, Hogs Get Hired: From Campus Work to Career Success