State Fair Community College Narrows Presidential Search To Three Candidates

Board of Trustees President Gary Noland has announced that State Fair Community College has narrowed its search for a new president to three candidates.

Noland, co-chair of the presidential search committee, said he is pleased with the search process and the quality of the candidates.

“It’s exciting to reach this next stage of the search,” said Noland. “It has been open and transparent, and I’m very proud of the committee and its work. We look forward to the candidates’ presentations.”

Ron Wineinger, co-chair of the search committee, said members worked diligently to select three candidates whose expectations of excellence would match those of the SFCC community.

“Since the college’s inception, our staff, students and the community have strived to establish a reputation of which we can all be proud,” said Wineinger. “The quality of these candidates was evident, as was their desire to become part of an institution with such high standards. We look forward to presenting these candidates and gaining the insights of the college and our communities.”

After interviewing six candidates, the search committee has recommended three candidates to the Board of Trustees for consideration: Dr. Joanna Anderson, vice president for Student Services, Casper College, Casper, Wyo.; Dr. Steve Rook, vice president for Academic and Student Affairs, Rich Mountain Community College, Mena, Ark.; and Dr. Carmen M. Simone, provost and vice president for academic affairs, Lewis-Clark State college, Lewiston, Idaho.

Anderson has 26 years experience working in the community college setting. Since 2007 she has served as vice president for Student Services at Casper College, a community college of about 5,000 students in Casper, Wyo. She is one of three senior administrators who report to the president.

Before taking that position, she spent 21 years administering multiple departments at North Central Missouri College in Trenton, including serving as dean of Student Services, director of Public Relations, director of Admissions, and as an adjunct instructor.

Anderson received a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis in 2010 from the University of Missouri; a Master of Science degree in Education Curriculum and Instruction in 1998 from William Woods University; a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Journalism in 1978 from the University of Missouri; and an Associate of Arts degree in 1976 from Trenton Junior College (North Central Missouri College).

Rook has 24 years experience in higher education administration, the last 12 in the community college setting. Since 2011 he has served as vice president for Academic and Student Affairs at Rich Mountain Community College, a rural school of about 1,000 students in Mena, Ark. From 2000-2011 he served as vice president for Student Affairs and then vice president for Academic Affairs.

Before holding those positions, Rook served six years at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock as both assistant and associate Dean of Students and six years at Cameron University in Lawton, Okla., as director of Student Activities and Organizations. He has served as an adjunct instructor at all three schools.

Rook received a doctorate of Education in Higher Education Administration in 1998 from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock; a Master of Science degree in Education in Guidance and Counseling/Student Personnel in 1987 from Eastern Illinois University; and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Arkansas-Monticello.

Simone has almost 10 years experience in higher education administration. Since 2011 she has served as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Lewis-Clark State College, a regional college of about 4,000 students in Lewiston, Idaho, that serves as a traditional baccalaureate institution, a technical college and a community college for north central Idaho.

Before taking that position, she served from 2004-2011 as vice president of Academic Affairs at Casper College in Casper, Wyo. She also served as a Chemistry instructor there from 1993-2004; during that time she served as division chair for Physical Science and faculty senate chair. She held a summer Chemistry teaching position from 1993 to 2003 at Colorado State University.

Simone received a doctorate in Chemistry from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of North Dakota.

Two committee members, Wineinger and Cara Barth-Fagan, will visit each candidate’s place of work and conduct additional interviews.

Each candidate will be scheduled to visit the Sedalia campus for presentations to the college community and the public and an interview with the full Board of Trustees.

The board still hopes to make a final decision and offer by the end of March, said Noland.

Dr. Marsha Drennon, the college’s fourth president, will retire effective June 30. She announced her retirement plans in April 2012.

Press Release Provided by State Fair Community College