In the next stage of its search for the ninth president of Colorado Mountain College, the college’s board of trustees voted today to conduct additional interviews with Dr. Carrie Hauser and Dr. Alan Walker. The trustees are interested in additional in-depth conversation with Dr. Hauser and Dr. Walker to help assess their skills and experience in regard to their ability to lead the college.
“We have all taken considerable thought in making this decision,” said Glenn Davis, CMC board president. “The board is unanimous in expressing its extreme appreciation for the input received from those employees and community members who cared enough about the college to take time to be a productive part of this most valuable process.”
Hauser currently serves as the senior fellow of Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (past president and CEO Kauffman Scholars, a subsidiary of Ewing Marion Kauffman foundation) in Kansas City, Mo. Hauser previously served as vice president for institutional advancement and external relations at Metropolitan State College of Denver (now Metropolitan State University of Denver). She earned a Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies: business administration, political science and communications from the University of Arizona, and a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy in higher education policy from the University of California – Los Angeles.
Walker most recently served as the president of Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa. Previously he served as the vice provost of academic affairs, extended university programs, at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich. He earned an Associate of Science in fire science at the College of Southern Idaho; a Bachelor of Science in trade and industrial technical education and a Master of Education in vocational/adult education from the University of Idaho; and a Doctor of Philosophy in higher education policy and administration with a minor in business administration from the University of Kansas.
The search process started in June, when the board hired search consultant the Association of Community College Trustees. A screening committee composed of faculty, administrators, staff, a student, three community members and two of the college’s seven trustees reviewed completed applications.
From those applicants, the committee recommended that the board interview semifinalists. After those video interviews, the CMC Board of Trustees selected five finalists to interview in person: Dr. Leah Bornstein, Dr. Jill Boyle, Dr. Hank Dunn, Hauser and Walker.
Last week the candidates were interviewed by employees and community members, senior college leadership and the board of trustees, in addition to touring two campuses. Employees and community members who took part in the interviews were invited to complete post-interview online surveys, and that information was considered by the trustees in their decision. Boyle withdrew from the search this weekend.
The trustees hope to select the next CMC president soon, while recognizing that making the best decision for the college is the paramount priority, said Davis.
For more information about the presidential search and candidates, please go to www.coloradomtn.edu/presidentialsearch