New CEO
Robbin Hoopes will be the new president of Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, effective September 1. He has served as Cincinnati State’s provost and chief academic officer for the past 10 years.
During Hoopes’ tenure as provost, he led efforts to develop the college’s first bachelor’s degree programs, expand high-demand programs in areas including healthcare and aviation maintenance, increase transfer opportunities with area universities, secure major federal and state grants, and strengthen Cincinnati State’s accreditation standing, according to a release.
Hoopes previously was dean of humanities and sciences at Cincinnati State, and prior to that served for 14 years at Sinclair Community College (Ohio) in various posts, including assistant dean of liberal arts, communication and social sciences. He started at the college in 1999 as associate professor of American Sign Language and interpreting.
Interim CEO
Juston Pate is the new interim chancellor of Maysville Community and Technical College (MCTC) in Kentucky. He will also continue serving as chancellor of Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (ECTC), a position he’s held since 2017.
During his tenure at ECTC, Pate has led the college to move to an eight-week schedule, partner to build a residential complex for student parents struggling with housing insecurity, develop the college’s foundation, establish the ECTC Robbins University Center and centralize student support services, according to a release.
Before joining ECTC, Pate served for 10 years as provost of MCTC. He also previously served as interim president of Hazard Community and Technical College.
“Dr. Pate is an experienced and respected leader within our system who understands Maysville Community and Technical College, the communities it serves and the important role the college plays throughout the region,” said Kentucky Community and Technical College System President Ryan Quarles. “His familiarity with MCTC, combined with his strong record of leadership and commitment to student success, will provide stability and focused leadership during this transition. I am grateful for his willingness to serve both colleges and support the students, faculty and staff of MCTC.”
CEO retirement announcement
Lonnie Roberts, who has served as president of Coastal Pines Technical College (CPTC) for five years, has announced that he plans to retire on September 30, capping a 25-year career at the Georgia college.
Roberts led CPTC in achieving several milestones. During his tenure, the college has seen a 15.9% increase in overall enrollment and reached a record high in enrollment during the 2025-2026 academic year. CPTC has also expanded program offerings, completed many facility upgrades across its seven campus locations, opened a new precision machining and manufacturing building on the Camden Campus, partnered in opening the Southern Pines College and Career Academy on CPTC Baxley Campus, and most recently broke ground on the new health sciences building on the Jesup Campus.
“His leadership has helped position Coastal Pines for continued growth and success as the college remains committed to providing accessible, high-quality technical education and workforce training throughout southeast Georgia,” the college said in a release.
Roberts started in higher education in 2001, when he joined Altamaha Technical College as director of institutional effectiveness after nearly 21 years serving as county clerk and county administrator. In 2012, he became vice president for institutional effectiveness, where he led the college’s efforts to achieve accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2013, he became Acting President of Altamaha Technical College. He served in that capacity until 2014, when the college merged with Okefenokee Technical College to become Coastal Pines Tech.
Obituary
Donald M. Claycomb, who served for 23 years as president of State Technical College of Missouri, passed away on August 11. He was 84.
Claycomb joined Linn Technical College as its president in 1993, shepherding its transition into Linn State Technical College, and later to State Technical College of Missouri in 2014. He took a central role in program development, facility expansion, faculty growth and reputation building, according to his obituary. Claycomb was known for his focus on student success, industry partnerships and maintaining the college’s original mission.
Under Claycomb’s leadership, the college underwent regional accreditation, faculty recruitment and upgrades to campus facilities, according to a release, including construction of several buildings, such as the Klebba Activity Center, on-campus student housing and the Vehicle and Power Center.
“His legacy lives in every building, every tradition, and every student he helped shape. State Tech would not be what it is today without Don Claycomb and his vision for what this college could be,” the college posted on social media.
Claycomb started as a high school agriculture teacher before transitioning into higher education, teaching at Trenton Junior College, Kansas State University and the University of Missouri-Columbia. He then served as executive director of the Missouri State Advisory Council on Technical Education before becoming president of Linn Tech. When he retired in 2016, the college awarded him its first honorary degree and named its information technology Center the Dr. Donald M. Claycomb Information Technology Center in recognition of his service.
In 2018, Gov. Mike Parson appointed Claycomb to the Missouri State Board of Education, where he continued his commitment to strengthening the education of children and youth across the state.
Appointments
Leslie Hafer has been promoted to vice president for academic affairs at St. Petersburg College. She joined the Florida college in 2018 as provost of the St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus.
Kelvin Rutledge is the new vice president of student affairs at SUNY Westchester Community College. He comes from Southern Connecticut State University, where he served in executive and divisional leadership roles.
Brett Sawyer will become interim director of the dual-enrollment and pre-college advancement program at American River College (California) on August 31. He currently serves as student life supervisor in the Los Rios Community College District.
Daniel Sorensen is the new dean of communications and arts at NorthWest Arkansas Community College. He comes from Odessa College in Texas, where he served as the visual and performing arts department chair and an associate professor.
At SOWELA Technical Community College in Louisiana, Allison Dering has been promoted to vice chancellor of enrollment management and student affairs, and David LaFargue is now vice chancellor of workforce solutions. Most recently, Dering — who has been with the college since 2007 — was executive director of enrollment management and student affairs. LaFargue has served as executive director of workforce solutions since 2021.
