Shirley takes over as new CC president

Clarendon College is under a new administration this week after Dr. Phil Shirley took office as president Monday.

Shirley becomes the 18th sitting president of the Panhandle’s oldest college and is no stranger to Clarendon, having served as CC’s Dean of Instruction from 1986 to 1990. He said Monday is very happy to be back.

“It is so good to be home,” Shirley said. “I can’t express that enough. There is a feeling of belonging and coming back to your roots that prevails here.”

Shirley said he immediately felt the closeness of the community upon his return.

“I think a lot of people under appreciate what we have here.”

Shirley most recently served as the president of Southeastern Arkansas College in Pine Bluff, Ark. Shirley’s wife, Jeannine, teaches second grade in Arkansas and will join him in Clarendon as soon as she finishes her contract for this school year.

Shirley succeeds Dr. William R. Auvenshine, who retired effective December 31, 2010.

As Shirley takes office, two immediate issues on his desk include the recent resignation of Dean of Instruction Debra Kuhl and a reduction in state funding for the college. The new president said Monday he had not had time to evaluate how the funding cut would impact CC’s budget; and as far as Kuhl’s resignation, he said he would assume her duties for the time being.

“We’re going to let things even out,” he said. “I have 25 years experience as an academic dean, so that won’t be a problem. We’ll look at advertising that position in about March then fill it July 1. We need to find someone who will be content here – someone who likes small towns and enjoys the family atmosphere that we have here.”

The new president has not set specific goals for the college at this time but said he generally hopes to grow the college and to serve students more specifically.

“Head count is important,” Shirley said, “but it is mainly about serving our students.”