Texas Border Business
MCALLEN, TEXAS – The South Texas College Board of Trustees is seeking a new President following the retirement of Founding President Dr. Shirley A. Reed in January. The Board has engaged the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and ACCT Search Consultant Dr. Bill Holda to assist with the search in cooperation with a 19-member Presidential Search Committee.
In addition to faculty, staff, and student representatives, the committee includes Mr. Paul R. Rodriguez (Search Committee Chair, STC Board of Trustees, Past Chair), Mr. Noel Benavidez (Private Sector), Mr. Sergio Contreras (RGV Partnership, President & CEO), Hon. Jim Darling (City of McAllen, Mayor), Ms. Aisha Gonzalez (Private Sector), Mrs. Bonnie Gonzalez (Knapp Community Care Foundation, CEO), Dr. Frank Guajardo (Museum of South Texas History, CEO), Mr. Rene Guajardo (STC Board of Trustees, Member), Mr. Gary Gurwitz (STC Board of Trustees, Founding Member), Dr. Danny King (Leadership Innovation Transformation, Owner/ CEO), Mr. Keith Patridge (McAllen Economic Development Corporation, President & CEO), and Mr. Mike Perez (City of Weslaco, City Manager).
South Texas College’s next president must be committed to strengthening campus camaraderie, involved with the community, innovative and technologically savvy, and be able to understand and appreciate the Rio Grande Valley’s unique culture, according to surveys and public forums that are playing a critical role in the search process.
The South Texas College Board of Trustees incorporated this input into a model “Presidential Profile” of what it wants to see in its next CEO and formally adopted the standards at its March 9 meeting. A total of 157 people attended the forums and 181 people responded to the online survey.
“South Texas College is committed to hiring a President who can motivate students, faculty, and staff to reach their full potential and will succeed in expanding on the tradition and impact the college has established in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Presidential Search Committee Chair and Board of Trustees member Paul Rodriguez.
The ACCT, which has more than 40 years of experience as the only nonprofit dedicated to providing services to community college governing boards, has successfully completed more than 500 CEO executive searches ranging from college presidents to state chancellors.
The next step in the process is advertising the profile nationally, including through The Chronicle of Higher Education and other major publications and websites. The Presidential Search Committee will review the applications, interview semifinalists for the position, and identify the final candidates to forward to the Board of Trustees.
Final candidates will be interviewed and participate in open forums, either virtually or in-person, at South Texas College, most likely in early May.
“The Board of Trustees is committed to continuing a transparent process and excited about finding a nationally recognized leader that will help carry our excellence in service to the community forward,” said Board of Trustees Chair Rose Benavidez.
For further information about the process, please contact Dr. Holda at mwmholda@gmail.com or (903) 987-3332, or visit our website at southtexascollege.edu/presidential-search.
