A-PLUS! PROFESSOR HONORED FOR 'EXCELLENCE'.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Antelope Valley College counselor and psychology professor Richard J. Manley has been honored by state education leaders for his work supporting students, his college and his profession.

Manley is one of the four statewide winners of the Hayward Award for Excellence in Education, which recognizes top faculty at California community colleges and includes a $1,250 prize.

``I feel deeply honored, very appreciative and very fortunate,'' Manley said. ``This is something I'll remember the rest of my life.''

The notice comes just months after Manley received Antelope Valley College's top faculty award, Scholar in Residence. The Scholar in Residence is awarded to a faculty member who brings credit to the college, is a compassionate and skillful educator, demonstrates persistent dedication to innovation and excellence, and increases knowledge in his or her academic discipline.

``After Scholar in Residence, I thought it was the end of the accolades. When this happened I was floored,'' Manley said. ``I'm still trying to get my arms around what this means for me.''

Manley is the fourth AVC faculty member to receive a Hayward Award since the award was created in 1985 by the state community colleges board of governors. The previous AVC Hayward recipients were Bruce Smith, Martha Wengert and Patricia Sandoval.

AVC President Jackie Fisher Sr. said Manley's contributions to the college include developing the college's shared governance policy and revising the college board's policies and procedures.

``This is a great honor for Richard and a tribute to the fine faculty at AVC,'' Fisher said. ``This college holds the distinction of having the most Hayward Award winners of any college in Los Angeles County.''

In 18 years at Antelope Valley College, Manley has counseled an array of students - recent high school graduates, women getting off welfare and workers in their 50s and 60s retraining for new careers after losing jobs or pensions.

Manley was instrumental in establishing the college's career center, and he led the committee that searched for a new college president.

Raised on a farm, Manley taught and worked as a counselor at community colleges in Illinois and Texas before going to work in Antelope Valley College's counseling division in 1988.

His Illinois work included seven years teaching psychology and career-development courses inside Joliet State Prison for the local community college.

Manley, a Palmdale resident, wrote a book about surviving cancer, ``Portrait of Healing,'' published in 2003.

Jim Skeen, [phone]

james.skeen(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos

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(1 -- color) Antelope Valley College counselor and professor Richard Manley is one of four recipients statewide of the Hayward Award for Excellence in Education, which recognizes top faculty at California community colleges.

(2 -- color) Professor Richard Manley of Antelope Valley College, who won a statewide award for excellence in education, was instrumental in establishing the college's career center.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer