By Jeff Lowrance
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s Board of Trustees has announced the finalists in its search for the community college’s next president.
Each of the finalists will come to the community college between Wednesday and April 30 for interviews with the board, campus tours and meet-and-greet sessions with faculty and staff members.
After checking references and one candidate withdrawing, five finalists remain in the search for Rowan-Cabarrus’ next president.
Here is a brief biographical sketch of each finalist:
C. Leary Bell
Bell is associate chancellor at the University of South Carolina at Beaufort.
From 2001-2006, he served as vice president for external affairs at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga. While at AASU, he was also executive vice president of the university’s foundation. He served in various leadership roles at Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga., from 1996-2001, including executive director of education regional services, chair of the computer science department and professor of computer science.
Bell holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus. He earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in mathematics from Auburn University.
Catherine Chew
Chew is vice president for academic affairs at Orange County Community College in Middletown, N.Y., a position she has held since 2005.
Chew was an assistant dean at New Jersey City University in 2004-2005. From 1999-2003, she served as dean for business, technology and allied health at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Penn. Her previous leadership experience also includes dean of business, science and technology for the Dallas County Community College District in Lancaster, Texas, and director of the Center for Instructional Excellence for Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wis.
Chew holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville. She earned a master’s degree in student personnel and a doctorate in career education from Virginia Tech University.
Henry “Hank” Dunn
Dunn has been chancellor of the Central Indiana Region of Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis since July 2006. From 2002-2006, he was vice president of student services at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. His previous leadership experience includes serving as the dean of students at Pasco-Hernando Community College in New Port Richey, Fla., and as the director of admissions and registration at Lake City Community College in Lake City, Fla.
Dunn holds an associate arts degree in general studies from Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, Fla. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and education from the University of Florida, and a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. He earned a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Florida.
Carol Spalding
Spalding has been open campus president of Florida Community College in Jacksonville since 1988. She also served as the president of the downtown campus from 1998-2001. Her other leadership experience includes serving as dean of the open campus, director of continuing education and program coordinator/counselor at Florida Community College.
Spalding holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from the University of Louisville in Ky., and a master’s degree in human resource management from Pepperdine University in Santa Ana, Calif. She earned a doctorate in education from Columbia University in New York.
Kerry Youngblood
Youngblood served as vice president of community college affairs at Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colo., from 2005-2007. In that position, he functioned as the president of Western Colorado Community College, a branch of Mesa State College.
From 1992-2005 he served as the executive director of the Grand Valley Board of Cooperative Education Services in Grand Junction. His other leadership experience includes serving as director/dean of the Mesa State College School of Applied Technology from 1991-2004.
Youngblood holds a bachelor’s degree in education and physiology from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. He earned a master’s degree in education administration and a Ph.D. in community college leadership from Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
The schedule of interviews and campus tours for the finalists is:
– April 23 ń Kerry Youngblood
– April 25 ń C. Leary Bell
– April 28 ń Catherine Chew
– April 29 ń Henry Dunn
– April 30 ń Carol Spalding
The finalists’ bios and the schedule of interviews will be posted on the college’s Web site, www.rowancabarrus.edu/ presidentsearch/.
Rowan-Cabarrus President Richard Brownell announced a year ago his plans to retire in June. Brownell has led the college as president for more than 30 years. The Rowan-Cabarrus board is working with National Search and Education Associates of Cary as a search consultant.