"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."Albert Einstein
Headlines
- Dunn named A-B Tech's Fifth President
- New Medical Plan for Students and Employees Offers Affordable Health Insurance
- Culinary Team Wins Gold Medal at State
- Changes are coming to the A-B Tech Café
- New Program Gives Students an "EDGE" in College and the Workplace
- Nominate the Continuing Education Instructor of the Year
- Employees Learn CPR During Spring Faculty Update
- Drama Students Star in Criminal Justice Technology Videos
- Harris Wins Photography Contest
- College Forum Thanks Donors
- Early College students tour sustainability projects
- College receives welding robot from Eaton
- Meet Foundation Scholarship Recipients
- Even If You're Young and Healthy, Flu Can Bring You Down
- Haiti Relief Dollar Drives raise funds for earthquake victims
- Nursing Student receives Certificate of Extraordinary Action
- Student-built modular home moves to Oakley
- Welcome, New Employees
- Nominate Staff Member of the Year
- Win this lovely Valentine basket!
- Wall-sized world maps installed in Elm
- Writing Center Open for Spring Semester
- Tech Notes
Dunn named A-B Tech's Fifth President
Dr. Hank Dunn, chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College's Central Indiana Region, has been named A-B Tech's fifth president. He will begin his new job March 1.
Dr. Hank Dunn greets Ivory Hunter, Maintenance technician, during a reception following the Board of Trustees announcement to hire Dr. Dunn as the College's new president.
David Bailey, director of United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, and A-B Tech Board Member Richard Hurley meet with Dr. Hank Dunn.
The A-B Tech Board of Trustees approved by acclamation Jan. 25 the hiring of Dr. Hank Dunn, chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College's Central Indiana Region, as the college's fifth president. Dr. Dunn's hiring is contingent on approval from the State Board of Community Colleges.
Dr. Dunn, a community college graduate who describes himself as an "unabashed student advocate," will begin his new job March 1. He said he is excited about the opportunity to lead A-B Tech, adding he has long been familiar with the college because he and his wife, Darlene, have owned a second home in Mars Hill for nearly a decade.
"I am so proud to have the privilege to be able to come to (A-B Tech). It is with great enthusiasm that I accept (the position)," Dr. Dunn said. "Together we're going to make this a place where students come, are successful and go out and change the world, and I'm excited about that possibility."
David Wyatt, chairman of A-B Tech's Board of Trustees, said Dr. Dunn was chosen from a pool of 58 applicants from across the country. "Although our presidential search produced many outstanding candidates, the board chose Dr. Hank Dunn because of his impressive background and credentials, his team-oriented leadership style, and his long-standing commitment to student success," Wyatt said. "We look forward to working with Dr. Dunn as he leads Western North Carolina's largest institution of higher education and one of our community's most important economic engines."
Dr. Dunn, 57, has served as chancellor of Ivy Tech's Central Indiana Region, the largest in that state's network of 14 community college regions, since July 2006. During that time, the college's enrollment has increased from about 14,500 students to more than 24,000, making it one of the fast-growing institutions in the country.
Dr. Dunn built strong ties between Ivy Tech, the local school systems and the business community, adding an early admissions program that allows high school students to earn up to 30 hours of credit through dual enrollment courses and creating college readiness centers that assess and prepare students to enter college. He also taught a course each year to stay connected to the needs of students and faculty.
Under his leadership, Ivy Tech more than doubled the revenue generated through its Workforce and Economic Development Division, which provided training services to more than 200 employers in the region in the past fiscal year.
"I have watched A-B Tech for years," he said. "It is a great school with many existing programs that have created exceptional student successes. The college seems to embody the ideals that I espouse; it is the community's college and student success is its primary aim.
"The only way to be a good community college is to find the local needs and meet them, and that includes meeting the needs of local businesses as well. My commitment is to the local community and I will be heavily engaged in helping the community and the business community grow."
Dr. Dunn has overseen a $56 million budget and 1,100 employees at Ivy Tech; in Asheville, he will have an operating budget of about $51 million and about 1,000 employees. A-B Tech's enrollment exceeds 27,000.
Dr. Dunn's civic engagements in Indianapolis have included serving as a member of Second Helpings, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to ending hunger; several committees of the Chamber of Commerce; the Center for Leadership Development, the Neighborhood Housing Partnership, and the Private Industry Council.
His career includes more than 25 years in business and higher education in Florida, Ohio and Indiana. The son of a career military man, he traveled widely until settling in Florida, where he earned an associate of arts degree in general studies from Indian River Community College. He holds a bachelor's degree in history and education from the University of Florida, a master's degree in guidance and counseling from Florida Atlantic University and a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Florida.
After earning his bachelor's degree, Dr. Dunn returned to Indian River Community College to work as the director of Financial Aid and an instructor. He also has served as vice president of Finance and Administration for Springz Entertainment Centers, Inc. in Ocala, FL; dean of Student Services at Pasco-Hernando Community College in New Port Richey, FL; director of Admissions and Registration, registrar/director of Student Services and director of Financial Aid at Lake City Community College in Florida; and vice president/branch manager for Florida National Bank in Fort Pierce. Before becoming chancellor of Ivy Tech, he was vice president of Student Services at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, OH.
Dr. Dunn and his wife, Darlene, an attorney, have three grown children and two daughters-in-law.
His hiring concludes a 10-month search process prompted by the resignation of the college's fourth president, Betty Young, who accepted a job as president of Coleman College for Health Sciences in Houston, TX. Richard Mauney, A-B Tech's executive vice president of Finance and Information Systems Technology, served as interim president since May.
Wyatt thanked Mauney for his leadership during the transition. "The Board of Trustees is indebted to Dick for his steady guidance during such an important period in the college's history. Because of him and the outstanding faculty and staff, A-B Tech has continued to operate smoothly and maintain its mission of being dedicated to student success."
In June, a Search Committee appointed by Carol Peterson, then chair of the Board of Trustees, interviewed four search firms before selecting Gold Hill Associates, an Asheville company with a record of nearly 100 community college searches. Gold Hill surveyed the college community in August to determine the skills and experience needed in a new president. Those results, as well as the results of two college listening sessions and meetings with community stakeholders, served as the basis of a leadership profile created to evaluate applicants.
Using that profile, the Search Committee narrowed the pool of 58 applicants to five finalists, whose names were turned over to the Board of Trustees. Those five visited A-B Tech in December for interviews with the board and college constituents. From there, using the input of the college and community, trustees narrowed the list to three, whose names were submitted to the State Board of Community Colleges for reference checks. Extensive checks also were conducted locally, and a three-member contingent of trustees visited Dr. Dunn's college in Indianapolis after he was identified as the frontrunner. There, they interviewed 19 people, including board members, Dr. Dunn's executive team, the president of the Student Government Association, and school officials.
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New Medical Plan for Students and Employees Offers Affordable Health Insurance
A-B Tech Human Resources has partnered with Eblen Charities and The Primary Care Project to provide affordable health insurance for students, employees and their families.
The A-B Tech Human Resources Department has partnered with Eblen Charities and The Primary Care Project to provide affordable health insurance for students, employees and their families. The program is open to any A-B Tech student or employee, but particularly focuses on our adjunct employees who may be uninsured or underinsured.
The optional, limited-benefit insurance plan provides coverage for doctor visits, hospital and emergency room care, accidents, pharmacy benefits, and discounts on chiropractic care, health clubs and more. Individual plans start at $99 a month.
“A-B Tech does not pay a fee for this program, we are simply making it available as an option for our students, employees and their families,” said Kaye Waugh, Human Resources director. “It is not intended to replace the State Health plan for our full-time employees, but it may serve to meet the needs of students and our adjunct and part-time staff who may be uninsured.” The College has about 550 adjunct and part-time staff members and about 27,000 students.
“This is the only program like this that individuals can do through the web,” said Bill Murdock, Executive Director of Eblen Charities. “We thought this was a very good way to offer limited-benefits health insurance.”
“This is something that since I’ve been with the College, adjuncts have asked for, and while the college cannot financially support a program like this, it was an opportunity to partner with Eblen and make this program available for our employees.” Waugh said. “There’s been a lot of time and effort put into developing this program, and we were fortunate enough to know Bill (Murdock) and be a part of it.”
Murdock, an A-B Tech graduate, serves on the Board of Directors of the A-B Tech Foundation. Eblen Charities is a non-profit organization that annually assists tens of thousands families through its nearly 60 programs throughout Western North Carolina. “This program fits with Eblen’s mission of helping people, right here at home,” said Murdock.
To learn more about the health insurance plan or to enroll, visit www.abtechmedplan.com or call 800-288-9152.
Culinary Team Wins Gold Medal at State
A-B Tech student culinary team members are from left, David Van Tassel, Alexandra Panayotopulos, Sidney Ann Caton, Tracy Williams and Kay Ponder.
The 2010 A-B Tech Student Culinary Team won a gold medal at the North Carolina state competition Jan. 16 at Johnson and Wales University in Charlotte as part of an unprecedented event.
Alamance and Wake Tech Community Colleges and Johnson and Wales University earned gold medals as well. This is the first time all teams in a N.C. state competition have achieved such a level. Johnson and Wales earned the highest number of points and will advance to the Southeast Regional competition.
"Each season of competing brings a higher level of learning," said Charles deVries, A-B Tech team coach. "The caliber of food and technique were at a higher level than where we were at the national level last year."
With fellow coach Fred Snyder as well as other members of the Hospitality Department, "we brainstormed early on to come up with an ideal menu that would incorporate high skill levels and great combinations of flavors," deVries said.
Team members for A-B Tech are Tracy Williams, Kay Ponder, Alexandra Panayotopulos, David Van Tassel, and Sidney Ann Caton.
The four-course menu consisted of an classic appetizer from Escoffier that all teams were to interpret: Filet de Sole Floréal, a sole filet rolled with a fish forcemeat and served with Sauce Vin Blanc and asparagus.
A mixed green salad, apple and fennel slaw served with a cheese beet custard and goat cheese dressing and bacon tuile, followed the appetizer.
The entrée was a trio of rabbit, consisting of a deep-fried rack with celeriac, tenderloin stuffed with fig, liver and arugula, wrapped in prosciutto, and a rabbit stew served in a puff pastry shell.
The dessert the judges deemed perfect was a parsnip cake with toasted pecans, raspberry coulis and sweetened fried basil leaves, a sugar cup filled with orange cream and bruleed orange sections, and finished with a chocolate ganache cup and basil infused cream anglaise.
Tech Talk is published by the Communications Office for employees, students, and friends of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.
Editor: Mona Cornwell, Writer: Martha Ball, Designers: Justin Page, April Sides
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