The Professional Achievement Award: Keith Clinkscales MBA '90

Keith Clinkscales was named senior vice president, content development and enterprises, ESPN in June 2007. As head of ESPN Content Development, Clinkscales launched a new ESPN incubator media lab, designed to develop and create new sports-driven content for all ESPN media platforms; expanding the ESPN Content Development brand. Clinkscales also leads ESPN Enterprises where he oversees ESPN Publishing -- responsible for all operations of the award-winning ESPN The Magazine, domestically and internationally; ESPN Books; and all new publishing related business initiatives. Additionally he is responsible for ESPN RISE, ESPN Home Entertainment, ESPN Media Packaging and the ESPN Zones.

In 1999, Clinkscales launched and served as Chairman and CEO of Vanguarde Media, publishing HONEY, Heart & Soul and Savoy magazines until 2003. While heading up Vanguarde, he managed the growth of its publications to reach more than 1.2 million in paid circulation, with a total reach of more than five million.

Clinkscales was founding President and CEO of VIBE Magazine from 1993-1999. There, he grew VIBE from a consumer music magazine with a circulation of less than 100,000 to a comprehensive, industry-standard urban lifestyle publication reaching 700,000 readers. A magna cum laude graduate of Florida A&M University, Clinkscales received a master's degree in business administration from Harvard. He is an Academic Director for the Stanford Professional Publishing Course and is a member of PepsiCo's Multicultural Advisory Board. In 2008 Clinkscales was named one of Diversity MBA Magazine’s "Top 100 under 50 Diverse Corporate Executives" and in 2007, was honored by CableWorld Magazine as one of the "Top 50 Most Influential Minorities in Cable."

The Bert King Award for Service: Argelia Rodriguez MBA '94

Ms. Argelia Rodriguez is the first appointed President and CEO of the DC College Access Program (DC-CAP).  DC-CAP is an organization funded by Washington-area companies and foundations dedicated to encouraging and enabling District public high school students to enter and graduate from college.

As President and CEO, Argelia is responsible for operating 34 college information centers in public schools around the city, administering over $2.7 million dollars in scholarship funds each year and providing college and financial counseling to more than 16,000 high school and college students, and their parents.  Under her leadership, DC-CAP has helped to send more than 11,500 students to college helping to double the DC public high school student college enrollment rate and as well as establishing DC-CAP as one of the country’s leaders in college retention research and practice. She helped position DC-CAP to support a partnership with Congress for the enactment and implementation of the unprecedented DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DC-TAG) legislation allowing DC students to attend public institutions around the country at in-state tuition rates.

Under her leadership, DC-CAP has been certified as a Four Star nonprofit organization by Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator.  The four star rating, Charity’s Navigator’s highest rating, indicates DC-CAP is exceptional at managing its finances, exceeds industry standards and outperforms most other charities in its cause category.  Argelia is also responsible for marketing, strategic planning, fundraising, community outreach and program development.

Ms. Rodriguez holds a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from Stanford University and an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business.

Read more about about Argelia Rodriguez here.