CEO on the move
Caron Daugherty will serve as the seventh president of State Fair Community College (SFCC) in Missouri, effective January 1. She is currently president of Flint Hills Technical College (Kansas), a position she has held since 2021.
“Dr. Daugherty’s vision aligns strongly with SFCC’s mission to transform lives and strengthen our communities through innovative, high-quality education. We are confident that her dynamic leadership will build on the college’s successes and guide SFCC into its next exciting chapter,” Patty Wood, SFCC board of trustees president, said in a release.
Previously, Daugherty was vice chancellor of instruction and chief academic officer at Metropolitan Community College in Missouri. Throughout her career, she has held positions including vice president of instruction, dean, faculty member, academic adviser and director of grants and an honors program.
Daugherty began her higher education career at Missouri State University, according to a release. Her introduction to community colleges came through adjunct teaching and part-time testing support roles at Ozarks Technical Community College in the late 1990s. She professionally transitioned to the community college sector in 2002.
In addition to her institutional leadership experience, Daugherty serves as a commissioner on the American Association of Community Colleges’ Commission on the Future of Work. She also serves on the Higher Learning Commission’s (HLC) Institutional Actions Council and has been an HLC peer reviewer since 2014, including service as a peer review chair.
Daugherty’s professional recognitions include the National Academic Advising Association Outstanding Advisor Award and the Moraine Park Association of Career and Technical Education Administrator of the Year Award.
New CEOs
Thomas A. Broxson will become president of Washington’s Skagit Valley College on January 1. He is currently vice president for instruction and chief academic officer at Clover Park Technical College (CPTC) in Washington, a position he has held since 2020.
Broxson brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education, including more than two decades in Washington’s community and technical college system.
“His extensive experience in Washington’s community and technical college system, collaborative leadership approach, and commitment to student success make him an outstanding choice to lead SVC into its next chapter,” Flora Perez-Lucatero, chair of the SVC board of trustees, said of Broxson. “We are confident his leadership will build on the college’s strengths, support our students and employees, and advance our mission of providing accessible, high-quality education to the communities we serve.”
Prior to CPTC, Broxson held several leadership positions at Pierce College, including tenured faculty member, division chair and founding district dean of the Math and Science Division. He is also an Achieving the Dream Leadership Coach and was selected as a 2024–25 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellow, a prestigious national leadership development program for emerging community college presidents.
Candace D. Jones will become superintendent/president of Santa Monica College in California on January 1. She is currently vice president of administrative and business services and chief business officer at California’s Long Beach City College (LBCC).
Jones brings 18 years of progressively responsible leadership in the California Community Colleges system, the University of California and private higher education, according to a release. Her accomplishments in her current position include eliminating a $7 million structural deficit within her first year at LBCC and strategically aligning resources to support enrollment growth, resulting in the largest enrollment class in the college’s history
Jones is “a passionate and inspiring leader who is committed to the success of our students, faculty and staff; beyond that, she is the ideal person to lead Santa Monica College at a time when we face challenges as well as great opportunities,” said Sion Roy, chair of the SMC board of trustees.
Prior to LBCC, Jones was assistant superintendent and vice president for business and administrative services at Pasadena City College (PCC), as well as associate vice president of information technology services and chief technology officer at PCC. At the president’s office at the University of California, Jones served as senior executive director of applications and data services.
A first-generation college student and UC Davis Wheelhouse Fellow, Jones is involved with various professional organizations and boards in leadership capacities, including the Statewide Association of Community Colleges, the African American California Community College Trustee and Administrators Caucus, American Educational Research Association and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, among others.
Chris A. Martin will be the next president of Central Wyoming College as of January 11. He is currently vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer at Salt Lake Community College.
Martin brings more than two decades of experience in higher education leadership, strategic planning, financial management, workforce development and community partnerships, according to a release.
Since joining SLCC in 2022, Martin has provided executive leadership for finance, budgeting, facilities, human resources and public safety at an institution with an annual budget exceeding $300 million. His work includes long-range financial planning, strategic investments in academic programs, employee development and the expansion of educational facilities.
Among his accomplishments, Martin oversaw the opening of a $57 million joint campus facility serving SLCC and the University of Utah, creating additional opportunities for students to transition from community college to four-year degree programs. He also helped lead a $5 million academic reinvestment initiative supporting high-demand academic and technical programs and has guided institution-wide efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into teaching and operations.
Prior to SLCC, Martin served for eight years as vice president for finance and business affairs at North Idaho College. He previously held leadership positions at Wichita Area Technical College in Kansas, Houston Community College in Texas and the Art Institutes. Earlier in his career, he worked in commercial banking and finance, gaining experience in business development, organizational strategy and relationship building.
Kudos
Summer DeProw, chancellor of University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College, has been named the Arkansas Executive of the Year (Education/Public Sector) by Arkansas Business. The award recognizes individual excellence of senior executives and top leaders. DeProw was noted for her visionary leadership, dedication to student success and tireless efforts to drive workforce development across the state.
Jermaine F. Williams, president of Maryland’s Montgomery College (MC), has been named to the Washington Business Journal’s Power 250 List, recognizing the region’s most influential business and nonprofit leaders shaping the greater Washington, D.C., area. Since 2022, Williams has championed equitable access, student success and economic mobility, strengthening MC’s impact on students, employers and communities throughout the region.
Tonjua Williams, president of St. Petersburg College, has been named to Florida Trend’s Florida 500, which recognizes the state’s most influential business leaders spanning more than 60 business categories. The business publication seeks individuals who make an impact beyond their organizations through community service, philanthropy and leadership. In her profile for the award, Williams notes that her next big focus is leading the college into its next century — “advancing workforce innovation, strengthening strategic partnerships and expanding flexible, high-impact programs and agile pathways that meet the evolving needs of students and employers.”
Appointments
Johannah D. Baugher is now executive director of the Workforce Development Board at North Central Missouri College. She brings nearly two decades of education and leadership experience to the role at her alma mater.
Kate Carpenter is the new associate director of policy and advocacy at the Texas Association of Community Colleges. She previously served as deputy director of policy and advocacy at the Communities Foundation of Texas.
Darren Gibson has been appointed to vice president of workforce and continuing education at Harford Community College in Maryland. He previously was associate vice president for community development, education and workforce operations at Howard Community College (Maryland).
Jessica Perez is now assistant vice president and chief careers and industry partnership officer at Queensborough Community College (New York). She brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in career services, experiential learning, employer engagement and workforce development to her appointment.
Jennifer Wyatt is the incoming vice president of student success and chief academic officer at Isothermal Community College in North Carolina, effective January 4. She is currently assistant provost for undergraduate education at Lenoir-Rhyne University in North Carolina.
