Interviews scheduled for presidential finalists

The five finalists for president of Colorado Mountain College will visit CMC Sept. 11 for several rounds of presentations and interviews with college employees and students, community members and the college’s elected board of trustees.

The candidates’ presentations to college employees will be shared with each campus via interactive video. Their opening statements will be recorded, and will be made available for viewing on the college’s website. After viewing the presentations, college employees, students and community members will be able to provide input on the candidates to the board of trustees. This input will be taken into account when the board of trustees chooses the college’s next, and ninth, president.

Full biographies submitted by the candidates are on the college’s website, at www.coloradomtn.edu/presidentialsearch.

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 via interactive video or teleconference.

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, Dr. Carrie Hauser and Dr. Alan Walker. Following the timeline the board set for the selection process, the trustees hope to select the next CMC president by October.

For more information about the presidential search and candidates, please go to www.coloradomtn.edu/presidentialsearch.

Interim President Charles Dassance now at helm

Since February the college has been led by an interim president, Dr. Charles R. Dassance, who is a former president of two community colleges. In 1996 Dassance was hired as president of what was then known as Central Florida Community College, in Ocala, Fla. Over the next 15 years he led that college’s transformation into prominence and record enrollment.

After Dassance retired in 2011 from the renamed College of Central Florida, he was honored with the title of president emeritus. The role of president at CMC became available in December upon the resignation of Dr. Stan Jensen.

Through 11 learning locations, the comprehensive community college serves the population across 12,000 square miles of north-central Colorado. Colorado Mountain College is located in Steamboat Springs, Rifle, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, Glenwood Springs-Spring Valley, Aspen, Edwards, Dillon, Breckenridge, Leadville and Buena Vista. Of these locations, the college’s three campuses in Spring Valley, Leadville and Steamboat Springs are residential. The college’s Central Services administrative offices, which serve all other locations, are located in downtown Glenwood Springs.