The recognition highlights Langoni Carpenter’s broad impact across the college and her commitment to supporting employees, students and the community.
Vice President of Human Resources and Legal Activities Kerri Langoni Carpenter has received the Outstanding Business Officer Award from the Community College Business Officers (CCBO), recognizing her leadership, innovation and service to San Juan College (SJC) and the broader community college profession.
CCBO presented the award during its 2026 conference on September 24. The organization gives the Outstanding Business Officer Award to professionals who demonstrate exceptional leadership, collaboration, innovation and service to their institutions and communities.
A Leadership Role that Goes Beyond the Bottom Line
Langoni Carpenter demonstrates the evolving role of a community college business officer through her work in several key areas, including human resources, compensation, student services, professional development and strategic planning.
Edward DesPlas, SJC executive vice president and a former CCBO president, highlighted the significance of the award during the San Juan College Board meeting on October 5.
DesPlas explained that the responsibilities of a modern community college business officer extend well beyond traditional accounting and budgeting functions.
“Over the years, college business operations have grown,” DesPlas said. “And it takes an outstanding business officer to serve on the CCBO Board of Directors, as Kerri does.”
Supporting Employees Through Strategic Compensation
One of Langoni Carpenter’s key responsibilities is serving as SJC’s lead compensation officer. The position requires both financial expertise and strategic decision-making. Her work helps SJC address compensation issues while maintaining responsible stewardship of funds.
Langoni Carpenter has also helped the college respond to recruitment and retention challenges in hard-to-fill positions. These efforts have been particularly important in areas such as the nursing program.
Through creative problem-solving and a strong understanding of institutional priorities, Langoni Carpenter has helped develop strategies designed to attract and retain critical employees.
Connecting Students With Career Opportunities
Langoni Carpenter’s leadership also extends to student success and career development.
She has played an important role in redesigning the Student Career Services Center, with a focus on improving services for students and employers.
By connecting students with employers and career resources, the college can help graduates move more effectively from education into the workforce.
“Kerri’s accomplishments demonstrate the kind of leadership and innovation that the Outstanding Business Officer Award is intended to recognize,” DesPlas said.
Recognition From Community College Peers
The Outstanding Business Officer Award carries additional significance because CCBO members nominate and select recipients through a peer-based process.
Award nominees are evaluated on their effectiveness in carrying out their responsibilities, professional accomplishments, participation in college-wide strategic planning, implementation of policies that support an institution’s mission and involvement with professional organizations at the state, regional and national levels.
As a member of the CCBO Board of Directors, she contributes to a national organization focused on advancing community colleges through professional development, collaboration and thought leadership.
An Award That Reflects SJC’s Broader Mission
While the Outstanding Business Officer Award recognizes Langoni Carpenter individually, the honor also reflects the collaborative work taking place across San Juan College.
Her responsibilities connect directly to many of the college’s priorities, from supporting employees and managing institutional resources to improving student services and strengthening connections with employers.
Her award also underscores the importance of innovative leadership as community colleges continue to respond to workforce demands, changing student needs and evolving expectations in higher education.
