JDR: Field for new FSCJ president down to nine candidates

Link to article: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/field-for-new-fscj-president-down-to-nine-candidates

The search committee will next conduct personal interviews with the nine semifinalists.

by: Scott Sailer | Editorial Research Director

Florida State College at Jacksonville’s presidential search committee narrowed the list of candidates to nine Wednesday.

Those candidates will be scheduled to visit Jacksonville on March 18-19 for personal interviews.

The finalist interviews and selection will be determined in early April, according to the search committee timeline. The campus will host the finalists to meet with students, faculty, administration and the public.

A list of final candidates, unranked, then will be sent to the board of trustees, which is scheduled to meet April 9.

The nine semifinalists include candidates from five states, with four from Florida, including an FSCJ professor. They are:

• John Avendano, Ph.D., president and CEO, Kankakee Community College, Kankakee, Illinois
• Cliff Davis, Ed.D., president, Table Rock Campus and vice chancellor of the system, Ozarks Technical Community College, Springfield, Missouri
• Marielena DeSanctis, Ph.D., interim college provost and senior vice president, Academic Affairs and Student Services, Broward College, Broward County
• Natalie J. Harder, Ph.D., chancellor South Louisiana Community College, Lafayette, Louisiana
• Madeline M. Pumariega, chancellor of the Florida College System until December 2018, Tallahassee
• James W. Ross, Ed.D., president and CEO of Pamlico Community College, Grantsboro, North Carolina
• David A.F. Sam, Ph.D., president and professor Elgin Community College, Elgin, Illinois
• Harvey Slentz, J.D., professor of Business and Employment Law Florida State College at Jacksonville, Jacksonville
• Jean A. Wihbey, Ph.D., vice president of Workforce Development at Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth

FSCJ's president's position came open May 31 with the retirement of former President Cynthia Bioteau.

Lawyer Kevin Hyde, a partner with Foley & Lardner, serves as the interim president but did not apply for the permanent position. He said he will stay on for the transition.

The 16-member FSCJ Presidential Search Committee, along with contracted Washington, D.C.-based AGB Search firm, narrowed the 74 applications to 12 candidates. After further review and reference checks, the search committee narrowed the list to nine semifinalists.