CC picks finalists for next president

Three finalists were named by the Clarendon College Board of Regents in the search for CC’s next president last week.

Following a closed session at the board’s September 26 meeting, Regents named three candidates as finalists and on-campus interviews are being scheduled this month.

The candidates in alphabetical order are:

• Dr. Robert Riza, Vice President of Student Services at Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas.

• Dr. Steve Rook, Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs at Rich Mountain Community College in Mena, Ark.

• Dr. Gary Stretcher, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Lamar State College in Port Arthur, Texas. Stretcher was also a finalist for president of CC in 2010.

An independent search committee reviewed completed applications from 12 candidates and advanced four names to the board. Regents then unanimously narrowed that pool of candidates to three.

Individual interviews will be held on October 16, 17, and 18; and the public is invited to meet the candidates on those dates during receptions and public forums from 11 a.m. to noon at the Bairfield Activity Center.

Regents will announce the selection of the next CC president at their board meeting on October 24.

In other college business last week, Regents ratified the hiring of the following employees: part time cheerleading coach Andrea Leggett, part time golf coach Daniel Burcham, part time testing clerk Celeste Whitesides, bookstore manager Lauraine Paul, and director of student life Debra Lamb.