Rhonda Phillips, Ph.D., FAICP – Bio

Rhonda’s research and outreach efforts focus on community quality of life and well-being. A specialist in community development and planning, her career achievements were recognized with induction into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP). At Purdue University, she serves as the inaugural Dean of the Honors College, and a Professor in the Agricultural Economics Department. Honors include serving three times as a Fulbright Scholar - as the 2006 UK Ulster Policy Fellow Fulbright Scholar in Northern Ireland, a 2012 Fulbright Senior Specialist to Panama, and most recently a 2015-2016 specialist again to Panama – all three times working closely with stakeholders in local communities on development projects.

Rhonda is author or editor of numerous books focusing on making the places we live better for all, including The Handbook of Community Well-Being (2017, Springer); The Handbook of Community Development, Perspectives from Across the Globe (2018, Routledge); Sustainable Communities, Creating a Durable Local Economy; Community Development Indicators Measuring Systems; and the text, Introduction to Community Development. One of her most recent book is The Happiness Policy Handbook with Laura Musikanski and Jean Crowder. She is editor of the series Community Quality of Life and Well-Being published by Springer in partnership with the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, http://www.springer.com/series/13761, and editor of Community Development Research and Practice, a book series by the Community Development Society and Routledge, https://www.routledge.com/Community-Development-Research-and-Practice-Series/book-series/CDRP. She and Seung Lee are founding editors of the International Journal of Community Well-Being, https://www.springer.com/social+sciences/wellbeing+%26+quality-of-life/journal/42413. Her work in community indicators and well-being has spanned several decades, she served on the Board of Directors for the Community Indicator Consortium, and as a researcher with the Community Well-Being Institute, housed in South Korea, http://www.communitywellbeing.org/the-team/. 

She formerly served as Senior Sustainability Scientist with Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability, as well as director and professor in the School of Community Resources and Development; and founding Director of the University of Florida’s Center for Building Better Communities. She holds degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Southern Mississippi.

Activities with ISQOLS:

• President, beginning 2013 through December 31, 2016
• Vice President, Programs, 2010-2012
• Service on editorial boards for the journals SIR, Applied Research in Quality-of-Life Studies, and the book series, Community Quality-of-Life Indicators: Best Cases series (now Community Quality-of-Life and Well-Being), and International Handbooks of Quality of Life
• Transitioned ISQOLS operations to professional staff for nonprofit management, for stabilizing processes.
  • Helped secure the first online registration system for ISQOLS
  • Helped secure the first online abstract submission system
• Implemented processes for conference hosting proposals and have helped transition to annual conferences, with dates confirmed multiple years in advance
• Created and appointed positions for Development (fundraising)
• Renewed board and transitioned inactive members; helped establish board emeritus category as recognition

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