Trustees Provide Update on Search for a New AACC President

The search for a new president at (AACC) continues.

The in the spring that will be effective in April 2012. Smith will have been president for 18 years, the longest tenure of the five presidents since the college's founding in 1961.

Board of Trustees Chairman Vicky Fretwell said finding a suitable candidate to fill Smith's shoes was among their primary duties as trustees. 

"It is probably the most significant work we will do during our tenure as trustees," Fretwell said. "Selecting leadership for this institution is foremost in our minds."

James Johnson Jr., who chairs the search committee, updated the crowd on their progress after holding two town hall meetings during Tuesday's Board of Trustees meeting.

A poll of 220 staff, faculty and students revealed five attributes they’d like to see in the next president. The qualities include:

• A passion for the mission of community colleges
• Leadership and vision
• The ability to encourage and develop staff
• Demonstrated effective management of a complex higher education institution
• A commitment to diversity and inclusion

Johnson said these values would help guide them as they finalize the position announcement that will begin being advertised over the next two months. All applications will be due in by Feb. 1, 2012, after which they will be reviewed. A date for interviews has yet to be finalized.

Trustee Diane Dixon-Proctor asked what would happen if none of the candidates were suitable. Johnson replied that he hoped it wouldn’t come to that. He said the search was designed to cast a wide net and create a broad pool of candidates. 

"This is a national search," Johnson said. "We're looking for the best person in the world to provide leadership to our institution."

Videos of the town hall meetings, held on Nov. 15-16, can be viewed on the college’s website.