Dr. Larry Gould, provost of Fort Hays State University, will receive the Brent D. Ruben Award from the Network for Change and Continuous Innovation as a founder and sustaining member of the organization dedicated to excellence and continuous improvement in higher education.

Gould is also a former board member of the NCCI, which was formerly known as the National Consortium for Continuous Improvement in Higher Education.

As provost and chief academic officer of FHSU, Gould "provides leadership, ensures academic accountability, encourages innovation and entrepreneurship, facilitates the work of faculty, staff and students and serves as a public intellectual promoting the culture, spirit and value of the academy," said an NCCI announcement of the award.

The NCCI cited Gould for his leadership in inspiring "the largest public distance learning operation in Kansas" and for his work in promoting civic leadership and service learning at FHSU and among other AASCU institutions in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

In addition to his service on the NCCI's Board of Directors and Executive Team, Gould chaired NCCI's Dissemination Team for three years, from 2009 to 2012. That team "recommends strategies for communications and information sharing, including platform for delivering multiple services through technology," said the NCCI.

He will be presented with the award at the 2013 Annual Conference, July 11-13, in Indianapolis, Ind.