Institute to prepare
future community
coliege
presidents
The North Carolina Community College System has selected
22 administrators for the first Institute for Future Presidents,
North Carolina Community College System President H.
Martin Lancaster announced.
The Institute for Future Presidents (IFP) will provide executive
experiences that prepare and support individuals for
president/vice president positions in the Community College
System. Participants will refine their skills, receive a broad
understanding of the System's policies, legislation, programs,
finances and personnel operations and actively participate in
discussions with presidents, college trustees and other
accomplished community college leaders. One primary aim of
the institute is to provide continuity for capable and competent
leadership for the community colleges in North Carolina, said
Bob Allen, director of the institute and professional
development with the System.
Also, the institute identifies a pool of well-trained candidates
from diverse backgrounds to be considered for future
president's positions within the North Carolina Community
College System. Senior administrators across the System were
invited to submit an application to be considered for the
program. A statewide committee then selected from the
applicants.
"With the successfel beginning of our Future Presidents
Institute and with several presidential vacancies on the
horizon, I hope that the local boards of trustees who face this
challenge will seriously consider the full range of talented
candidates who will apply for their vacancies," President
Lancaster said during a recent presentation to the State Board
of Community Colleges.
The institute has been developed in conjunction with the North
Carolina Association of Community College Presidents, the
North Carolina Association of Community College Trustees
and the State Board of Community Colleges.
Dennis Wicker, chairman of the State Board of Community
Colleges, encouraged these community college leadership
organizations to work to make this project successful.
"This institute is another example of our commitment to
excellence for community colleges. We need leadership that is
well-trained and diverse. I am confident the institute will play
a great role in helping us achieve that," Wicker said
Said Dr. Elizabeth Johns, vice president of academic and
student services: "We are all committed to developing and
funding this institute to help prepare future leaders for our
colleges. The next generation of administrators must be
provided skills and experiences to meet the demands of leading
an institution."
Activities for IFP members during the year-long program that
begins Feb. 26 will include participation in two to three
leadership experiences and clinics, spending considerable time
with a president/mentor, attending special sessions designed by
national community college leaders and participating in
meetings of the North Carolina Association of Community
College Presidents, the North Carolina Association of
Community College Trustees and the State Board of
Community Colleges. Also, participants will complete an
administrative project, undergo executive assessment activities
and serve as a mentor before graduating from the program.
Postgraduate activities include evaluating other community
college operations, leading various statewide planning teams
and training mid-level managers.
Administrators selected for the program are Ann E. Alexander
of Piedmont Community College; Shirley Boyd of Wayne
Community College; Catherine B. Bunn of Johnston
Community College, Jarrett T. Chandler of Rowan-Cabarrus
Community College; Cleve H. Cox of Wilson Technical
Community College; William Charles Findt of Mitchell
Community College; William Greene of Gaston Community
College; Constance M. Haire of Southwestern Community
College; Diane Honeycutt of Richmond Community College;
Rose H. Johnson of Forsyth Technical Community College;
Dennis King of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community
College; Shirley R. Luckadoo of Rowan-Cabarms
Community College; David McLawhorn of Beaufort County
Community College; James M. Mitchell of Sampson
Community College; Virginia R. Mitchell of Mitchell
Community College; Garrie W. Moore of Pitt Community
College; Suzanne Y. Owens of Mayland Community College;
Karin K. Pettit of Guilford Technical Community College;
Susan Q. Phelps of Forsyth Technical Community College;
William J. Starling of Sampson Community College; Alice
W. Villadsen of Central Piedmont Community College and
Mary T. Wood of James Sprunt Community College.
With 795,400 students, the North Carolina Community
College System is one of the largest community college
systems in the country. It is the state's primary agency for
delivery of job training, literacy and adult education.