SCC Board Announces President

11/06/07

Board Chairperson Wesley Wright concluded the executive session motions with a comment regarding the recent presidential search. "On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I'd like to thank everyone involved with the college for their input into this search. The Board greatly appreciates all the effort the faculty and staff have put into helping the Board with this search. Every voice at the college was heard and taken seriously." Mr. Wright then announced the sixth president at Shawnee Community College to be Dr. Larry Peterson of Carbondale. "After evaluating each candidate, the Board of Trustees, along with the inclusion of the college community including staff, faculty and students, has decided Dr. Peterson will be the best fit for the future of Shawnee College." Dr. Peterson will begin his presidency December 3, 2007.

Dr. Peterson studied education at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, earning a bachelor's in both Economics and English, a master's in Education and a doctorate degree focusing on Community College Trustees.

Currently, Dr. Peterson serves as Vice President of Administration at John A. Logan College in Carterville where he just completed his twentieth year of employment. In this capacity at JALC, Dr. Peterson supervises the Small Business Development Center, is responsible for the annual Operational Plan, the RAMP document at the college and serves as the fiscal officer for IBHE grant projects.

In his application letter to the college, Dr. Peterson shared his views on higher education, specifically community colleges. "I have a genuine commitment to the mission of community colleges which includes access, affordability and opportunity." Peterson also said "Community colleges must remain a safe teaching, learning and working environment serving as a center for intellectual and economic resources."

The Board of Trustees also approved the following items:

Action Items:

• Approved bid for property/casualty insurance.
• Approved lab fee additions for education/early childhood education programs.
• Approved they FY07 audit.

Executive Session:

• Approved the employment of part-time faculty/staff for fall semester 2007.
• Approved the re-assignment of management-level employee Leslie Cornelious-Weldon to Career Services Coordinator.
• Approved the employment of Dr. Larry Peterson as President.