Newsmakers

New CEO

Lew Kyle Hunnicutt will serve as the fifth president of Nash Community College in North Carolina, effective November 1. He is currently assistant provost and campus director for the University of Georgia – Griffin Campus.

Hunnicutt began his professional career as an assistant professor in the Department of Agriculture at McNeese State University, and later served in the same capacity at Southwest Texas State University. He was vice president of extended services at Frank Phillips College in Texas prior to joining the University of Georgia.

Interim CEO

Audre Levy is now interim president at Roanoke-Chowan Community College in North Carolina. She has served in positions of leadership at community colleges in California, Texas and Florida. She recently retired after serving more than six years as president of Lone Star College-CyFair in Cypress, Texas.

CEO obituary

Richard Ernst, a staple of Northern Virginia Community College for 30 years, passed away on August 15 in Springfield, Virginia. He was 86 years old. Ernst was part of the college’s fabric since it started. He oversaw the growth of the college — known locally as NOVA — from a small warehouse in 1968, to five campuses by the time he retired in 1998 — with plans for a sixth in the works. The college celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017.

Among Ernst’s most significant contributions are those in the advancement of women and minorities in higher learning. An administrative leadership program he initiated specifically for that purpose helped to produce the first black president in Virginia Community College System history.

“Dr. Ernst’s legacy is the fundamental framework of this college, our focus on the quality of our faculty and NOVA’s ongoing commitment to being an educational and workforce necessity for the entire region,” said Mel Schiavelli, NOVA’s current interim president.

Prior to NOVA, Ernst was a math instructor, assistant dean of instruction and dean of academic affairs for St. Petersburg Junior College from 1963 to 1968. He also previously taught math at St. Petersburg High School in Florida.

In retirement, Ernst kept active in sports (among other activities and interests), winning many Senior Olympic gold and silver medals in basketball and track.

Appointments

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has reappointed Grand Rapids Community College President Bill Pink to the Midwestern Higher Education Compact. Pink was originally appointed in 2017 by then-Gov. Rick Snyder. His new term expires in March 2023. The compact focuses on providing greater higher education opportunities and services in the Midwestern region, with the aim of furthering regional access to, research in and choice of higher education for residents.

Mandy Church-Hoffman is now dean of learner support and transition at Western Technical College in Wisconsin. For the past six years, she was an associate dean.

Johnny Craig has been named vice president of student affairs at Seminole State College of Florida. Most recently, Craig was vice president for student services and enrollment management at Milwaukee Area Technical College in Wisconsin.

Jennifer Cumpston is the new dean of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) at College of DuPage (COD) in Illinois. Before joining COD, she was dean of general studies at Gateway Technical College in Wisconsin.

Shanna Howell is now dean of Bristol Community College’s New Bedford Campus (Massachusetts). She previously was director of student success at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Michael Upton has joined Mississippi’s Itawamba Community College as director of advancement. He previously was a major gift officer/regional philanthropy officer for the Red Cross of Mississippi.

Gail Vasilenko is now director of Rowan College at Burlington County’s dental hygiene program. She has more than 40 years of experience in the dental profession.

At Madison Area Technical College in Wisconsin, Denise Reimer has been promoted to associate vice president of academic operations and administration, and Geoff Bradshaw has been promoted to dean of international education. Reimer will continue to lead the strategic direction of the college’s School of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology as the executive dean. Geoff Bradshaw previously was director of the Center for International Education.

About the Author

Matthew Dembicki
Matthew Dembicki edits Community College Daily and serves as associate vice president of communications for the American Association of Community Colleges.
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