Special to the News-Sun
AVON PARK - The South Florida State College District Board of Trustees began its search Monday to find a replacement for SFSC President Norman L. Stephens Jr., who retires June 30, 2013. The review of applications began with 47 individuals requesting consideration for the presidential post.
Current applicants hail from the United States and Canada. There are 11 from Florida - William Aronson of Miami, Karen Bond of Parkland, Gilbert Evans of Palatka, Marshall Goodman of Lakeland, June Hall of Lecanto, John Holdnak of Tallahassee, Thomas LoBasso of DeBary, Sharon Miller of Winter Haven, Paul Nagy of Gainesville, Jean Wihbey of Palm Beach Gardens and Allen Witt of Ruskin.
Minimum qualifications for the presidential position were: an earned doctorate from a regionally accredited institution of higher education; at least five years of successful senior leadership experience as a vice president, vice chancellor, provost, president, or chancellor in a regionally accredited college, university, or higher education system; successful teaching experience at an accredited college or university; and full-time experience in a public community college or system.
Applicants were asked to respond to a presidential profile which reflects 15 key points for which a successful candidate will demonstrate understanding, appreciation, passion, and commitment.
A screening committee comprised of students, college employees, trustees, and representatives from each community in the college's service district of Highlands, DeSoto and Hardee counties will review the applications and make recommendations to the District Board of Trustees.
This week, Dr. Jeff Hockaday, SFSC human resources staff and executive administrators will ensure minimum qualifications are met and required materials have been provided. Hockaday, the search consultant for the trustees, expects that a group of 20-25 highly qualified candidates will be identified as fully demonstrating the criteria listed in the presidential profile.
Tuesday will be a screening committee workshop where members will be given online access to all application materials and discuss the review process, which will take place next week. Committee members will identify 10 qualified candidates they believe will best meet the needs of SFSC.
Another workshop will be held Tuesday, Feb. 26 to identify eight to 12 semi-finalists for an in-depth review. The semi-finalists will be asked to prepare a video in digital format addressing the presidential profile and committee questions. Those videos will be available for committee review March 8-18.
The screening committee will meet again March 19 to develop a final report to the trustees, including recommendations of five to seven candidates for consideration as finalists. The trustees will review those applications, materials videos the week of March 20.
The trustees will select the finalists March 27.
Finalists will be invited to participate in onsite interviews that will be conducted between April 15 and May 2. It is anticipated that the SFSC District Board of Trustees will select a candidate at a special meeting early in May.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013 - www.newssun.com/021313-sfsc-review-apps