College Moves Closer To Choosing President

Monday, November 12, 2012

— NorthWest Arkansas Community College’s Board of Trustees could decide on a new president following an executive session today.

Four candidates visited the college last week, meeting with faculty, students, staff and community members. The board met in executive session Nov. 6 to review the finalists and will continue discussion in executive session at 3:30 p.m. today. The meeting will be at the college’s Shewmaker Center for Workforce Technologies at One College Drive. The regular board meeting will follow at 4:30 p.m.

“I anticipate they will potentially come out and have a decision on who they are wanting to enter into a contract with as far as president,” said Steven Hinds, college executive director of public relations and marketing.

At A Glance

Paneitz Retirement

NorthWest Arkansas Community College President Becky Paneitz announced her retirement earlier this year. Her last day will be June 30. The new president will take over July 1.

Source: Staff Report

Joe Spivey, board member, has an idea of what he is looking for in a president.

“Someone who has a vision,” Spivey said. “Someone who has budgetary management experience, and someone who we know will be there to run the college and good with the faculty and staff along with have good board relations.”

Jo Alice Blondin, Evelyn Jorgenson, Anthony Kinkel and Carol Spencer are the four candidates who visited last week.

Blondin is the chancellor of the Arkansas Technical University’s Ozark campus.

“I had a terrific visit with the board, faculty, staff and students,” Blondin said.

Jorgenson, president of State Moberly Area Community College in Moberly, Mo., thought her visit went well.

“I was very impressed with the faculty, staff and students,” Jorgenson said. “They asked interesting questions. They seemed to be interested in me and my leadership style.

Kinkel, president of Wichita (Kan.) Area Technical College, said the college employees he met are “world class.”

“The strength of any college is the employees,” Kinkel said. “I have worked in four states and they are the best of any I have ever worked with.”

Spencer is the executive director of the Academic Program Articulation Steering Committee in Arizona. She previously was president of the State San Juan College in New Mexico.

“I was extremely impressed with the college and the generous folks I got to meet,” Spencer said. “There seems to be a real community commitment to higher education.”