New CEOs
Gregory Anderson has been appointed president of Saddleback College in California, effective October 16. Anderson has worked as a faculty member, director, dean and vice president among California community colleges for the past 12 years, most recently as vice president of planning, research and institutional effectiveness for the San Mateo County Community College District. Prior to that, he was vice president of instruction at Cañada College. In addition to gaining tenure and serving as president of the Academic Senate at De Anza College, Anderson taught for more than 20 years and managed programs at colleges and universities in Southern California.
Acting CEOs
Kevin Brockbank is acting president of Spokane Community College in Washington. He joined the college in 2015 as vice provost of strategic initiatives in the district office. Prior to that, Brockbank was dean of applied technologies and professional development at Salt Lake Community College in Utah.
CEO retirements
Robert Pura, president of Greenfield Community College in Massachusetts, plans to retire after 17½ years of service to the college and community, effective June 2018. Among achievements he’s particularly proud of, Pura lists spearheading various building renovations and new centers, creating the Creative Economy, Health Care and Manufacturing, and working with the college’s foundation to raise $14 million for student scholarships and building a $5 million endowment.
In addition to 39 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in the Massachusetts Community College System, Pura is also a proud graduate of a community college (Miami Dade College). Over his career, he has chaired the Massachusetts President’s Council and served on its executive committee. He was a member of the Working Group on Assessment of Student Learning for the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and currently serves on the Commission on Academic Student and Community Development for the American Association of Community Colleges. He also serves on the Baystate Health board of directors and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Higher Education Commission.
“I’ve never worked with someone who is as smart, strong, funny and successful, yet who approaches his work with no ego,” noted Robert Cohn, the college’s board president.
Michael Richards, president of College of Southern Nevada (CSN), plans to retire on January 31. Richards joined CSN in 2005 as vice president for academic affairs. He was named interim president in 2007 and became the college’s permanent leader in 2008. Prior to arriving at CSN, he was associate provost and associate professor of management at Southern Utah University, where he served in various executive positions for 23 years.|
During his leadership tenure, Richards has enhanced the college’s partnerships, working closely with regional business and industry, other institutions of higher education and the Clark County School District. He champions the community college high school program, which has a 100 percent high school graduation rate and gives high school students an opportunity to earn up to an associate degree at CSN’s three campuses. Richards’ current priorities include increasing degree and certificate completion and transfer rates for all students, recognizing these educational outcomes as among the many metrics that demonstrate student success.
His professional associations include the American Association of Community Colleges and the recent Nevada legislature’s interim committee on the funding of higher education.
Appointments
John Downing is now director of customized training and workforce development at Cape Fear Community College in North Carolina. He previously was director of customized training at Forsyth Technical Community College (North Carolina).
Richard Hall, vice president of academic affairs at Northern Wyoming Community College District, was recently appointed to the board of directors for the National Council of Instructional Administrators, an affiliated council of the American Association of Community Colleges.
Union County College (New Jersey) welcomes Demond Hargrove as its vice president for student development. Hargrove comes to Union after more than 20 years in student development at New Jersey City University, where he most recently served as associate vice president for student affairs.
Maureen Lawrence has been named the vice president for finance and administration at Middlesex County College in New Jersey. She previously was vice president for finance and operations at Brookdale Community College in New Jersey.
Precie Schroyer has been promoted to associate dean of Northampton Community College’s Monroe Campus. He had served as an associate professor of English at the Pennsylvania college.
Michael D. Thomas, will serve as vice president for workforce development and continuing education at Baltimore City Community College in Maryland, effective September 25. Currently, he is director of career readiness for Baltimore City Public Schools, a position he has held since 2009.
Mary Anna Thornton is the new director of Achieving the Dream, equity, diversity and inclusion at Western Technical College in Wisconsin. She previously was associate dean of general studies at the college.
At Georgia Piedmont Technical College, Shawn Thomas is the college’s new director of financial aid, Kristin Corkhill has been appointed as director of high school initiatives and Christine Hamilton is now director of campus life. Thomas has spent more than 20 years working in higher education, serving as director of financial aid at public, private and for-profit institutions. Corkhill most recently was director of K-12 relations and dual enrollment at Florida Southwestern State College. Hamilton previously served as the college’s coordinator of clubs and organizations.
