A-B Tech Presidential Finalists Chosen
The A-B Tech Presidential Search Committee announced November 9 the selection of five finalists for the presidency of Western North Carolina’s largest educational institution.
The five will visit A-B Tech for interviews with college constituents and the Board of Trustees Nov. 30-Dec. 11. They are:
Dr. Jeff Allbritten, who has served as president of the Collier County Campus of Edison State College in Naples, FL. – a three-campus college serving Southwest Florida – since 2003. Prior to that, Allbritten served as director of the Pines Center Campus at Broward College (2000-2003) and dean of the liberal arts division at the Kent Campus of Florida State College at Jacksonville (1999-2000). Allbritten serves on the Economic Development Council of Collier County, and sits on the boards of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, the United Arts Council of Collier County and the Eden Florida Autism Institute. He holds a Doctor of Arts in Chemistry from Middle Tennessee State University, a Master’s of Science in Mathematics and a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry.
Schedule
- Nov. 30
5:30 p.m. - Interview/dinner with Board of Trustees. (This session is closed to the public.) - Dec. 1
8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. – Meetings with administrators, staff, faculty and students.
3:30-4:30 p.m. – A community reception hosted by the A-B Tech Foundation, Simpson Building, lobby and lecture room. - Dec. 2
7:30 a.m. – Meeting with A-B Tech’s presidential search firm, Gold Hill Associates, and select community leaders.
9:30 a.m. – Tours of A-B Tech’s Asheville campus and Enka and Madison centers.
Dr. Greg Rutherford, who has been president of York Technical College since 2007. Prior to that, he was vice president of economic and workforce development at Haywood Community College in Clyde, where he held a number of positions, including director of continuing education and dean of workforce development at the regional high technology center (1995 – 2007). He also served as director of continuing education programs at A-B Tech (1987-1995). Rutherford has a Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Community College Leadership from the University of Texas, a Master’s in Business Administration from Western Carolina University, a Bachelor’s of Science in Management from UNC Asheville and an Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration from A-B Tech. Among his community engagements are serving on the York County Economic Development Board, the Catawba Council of Government Board and the Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation Board.
Schedule
- Dec. 3
8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. – Meetings with administrators, staff, faculty and students.
3:30-4:30 p.m. – A community reception hosted by the A-B Tech Foundation, Simpson Building, lobby and lecture room.
5:30 p.m. – Interview/dinner with Board of Trustees. (This session is closed to the public.) - Dec. 4
8:30 a.m. – Tours of A-B Tech’s Asheville campus and Enka and Madison centers.
2 p.m. – Meeting with Gold Hill Associates and select community leaders.
Dr. Cynthia Hess, executive vice president and chief academic officer at Craven Community College in New Bern. Hess has served in that capacity since 2005. Prior to that, she was provost of the Northeast Campus of Tulsa Community College in Oklahoma and Dean of Instruction of the West Campus of that system. Hess has graduate-level and community college teaching experience. She serves on the United Way of Coastal Carolina Board of Directors and on the North Carolina Community College System Curriculum Review Committee, which provides curriculum oversight for North Carolina’s 58 community colleges. She was a 2004 graduate of Leadership Craven. Hess holds a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from Oklahoma State University, a Master’s of Science in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelor’s of Arts in English.
Schedule
- Dec. 7
8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. – Meetings with administrators, staff, faculty and students.
3:30-4:30 p.m. – A community reception hosted by the A-B Tech Foundation, Simpson Building, lobby and lecture room.
5:30 p.m. – Interview/dinner with Board of Trustees. (This session is closed to the public.) - Dec. 8
7:30 a.m. – Meeting with Gold Hill Associates and select community leaders
9:30 a.m. – Tours of A-B Tech’s Asheville campus and Enka and Madison centers.
Dr. Rose Johnson, who has been president of Haywood Community College in Clyde since 2006. She served as vice chancellor of workforce development services for the Virginia Community College System (2004-2006) and as vice president for corporate and continuing education for Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem (1996-2004). Johnson sits on the boards of directors of the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, where she chairs the Green Business initiative and Folkmoot International, and volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. She holds an Ed.D. in Adult and Community College Education from North Carolina State University, a Master’s of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Appalachian State University and a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from Mars Hill College.
Schedule
- Dec. 9
8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. – Meetings with administrators, staff, faculty and students.
3:30-4:30 p.m. – A community reception hosted by the A-B Tech Foundation, Simpson Building, lobby and lecture room.
5:30 p.m. – Interview/dinner with the Board of Trustees. (This session is closed to the public.) - Dec. 10
7:30 a.m.– Meeting with Gold Hill Associates and select community leaders.
9:30 a.m. – Tours of A-B Tech’s Asheville campus and Enka and Madison centers.
Dr. Hank Dunn, who is chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College, Central Indiana Region in Indianapolis, where he has served since July 2006. Prior to that, he was vice president of Student Services at Sinclair Community College in Ohio and dean of students at Pasco-Hernando Community College in Florida. Dunn teaches a course each year on his campus. He serves on the board of Second Helpings Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to ending hunger, and on the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership and the Indianapolis Private Industry Council. He holds an Ed.D in Higher Education Administration from the University of Florida, a Master’s of Education in Guidance and Counseling, a Bachelor’s of Arts in History and Education, and an Associate of Arts degree in General Studies from Indian River Community College.
Schedule
- Dec. 10
8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. – Meetings with administrators, staff, faculty and students.
3:30-4:30 p.m. – A community reception hosted by the A-B Tech Foundation, Simpson Building, lobby and lecture room.
5:30 p.m. – Interview/dinner with Board of Trustees. (This session is closed to the public.) - Dec. 11
7:30 a.m. – Meeting with Gold Hill Associates and select community leaders.
9:30 a.m. – Tours of A-B Tech’s Asheville campus and Enka and Madison centers.
After the candidates’ visits, the Board of Trustees will submit three finalists’ names to the State Board of Community Colleges, as required by State Board policy, by Dec. 30. The A-B Tech Board expects to announce a decision Feb. 2.
With more than 27,000 students, A-B Tech has the largest enrollment of any educational institution in Western North Carolina. The college offers more than 60 degree, diploma and certificate programs, as well as hundreds of economic and workforce development/continuing education courses.
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