The McDowell Technical Community College Board of Trustees announced today that three (3) finalists have been selected for the vacant position of President at McDowell Tech following the resignation late last summer of former president Dr. Brian S. Merritt who had accepted a position as Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at the NC Community College System Office in Raleigh. Each of the current candidates has received preliminary approval by the NC State Board of Community Colleges to advance to the next stage in the search process.
“We appreciate the support of members of the McDowell Tech family and community as we move forward in the search process,” said Gary Stroud, Chair of the MTCC Board of Trustees. “I especially appreciate the dedication and commitment of each of our trustees in identifying the very best candidates to continue the excellent leadership and progress being made at the college during this juncture in our history. Dr. Merritt left some big shoes to fill, but I am confident that the finalists we have chosen are prepared to keep that momentum rolling and lead us and our students to even greater personal and professional successes.”
Dr. James “J.W.” Kelley
Dr. R. Chad Merrill
Dr. Sheri L. Rowland
The presidential finalists are (in alphabetical order):
Dr. James “J.W.” Kelley—Dr. Kelley currently serves as Associate Vice-President for Student Services at the North Carolina Community System Office in Raleigh, setting the direction of Student Services programs and activities across the 58 community colleges in the NC Community College System. Prior to his current position, he served as Vice-President for Student Services at Randolph Community College in Asheboro, NC and Division Chair in Humanities and Social Sciences, Director of Admissions and Counselor at Fayetteville Technical Community College in Fayetteville, NC. Previously, Kelley also served as Associate Minister of Education and Counseling at Fayetteville Christian Church, Professor of Counseling at Winston-Salem Bible College, Counselor at Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Sergeant/Squad Leader in the U.S. Quartermaster Corps, United States Army, Fort Bragg, NC. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Bible from Johnson University (Knoxville, TN), a Master of Arts in Counseling from Cincinnati Christian University (Cincinnati, OH), and a Doctor of Education in Management of Programs for Children, Youth and Families from Nova Southeastern University (Fort Lauderdale, FL).
Dr. R. Chad Merrill—Dr. Merrill currently serves as Vice-President of General Administration at Blue Ridge Community College in Henderson County, NC. Prior to this position, Merrill was Vice-President for Technology and Development, Chief of Staff/Chief Institutional Advancement Officer, Dean of Transylvania Campus and Director of Cooperative Education (Work-based Learning) at Blue Ridge. In addition, he was Coordinator of Training Support at JobLink Career Center, and Job Training Case Manager and Assistant to the Financial Aid Director at the college. Earlier, Merrill was a University Residence Supervisor at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Language from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, a Master of Arts in Education (Two-Year College Administration) from Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, NC) and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, also from Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, NC).
Dr. Sheri L. Rowland—Dr. Rowland currently serves as Vice-President for Student Affairs at Tallahassee Community College in Tallahassee, FL. Prior to that time, she was Assistant Provost for Student Success, Vice-President for Enrollment Management, and Dean of Admissions/Enrollment Management at Middle Georgia State University. Earlier in her career, she served as Dean of Enrollment Management, Director of the Student Success Center, Director of Enrollment Services and Testing at Tallahassee Community College, and Director of Enrollment Services and Research, Coordinator of Institutional Research, Coordinator of Registration and Coordinator of Counseling at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, FL. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Master of Arts in Psychological Counseling from Southeast Missouri State University (Cape Girardeau, MO), and a Doctorate in Education from Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL).
In addition to selecting the three finalists named above, the board has scheduled a series of candidate forums where faculty, staff, students and community members can meet and ask questions of each candidate following a brief introduction of the finalist. Forums will be held in the Crane Resistoflex Auditorium of the Cedar Administration Building on the college’s main campus at 54 College Drive in Marion. Participants will be given an opportunity for feedback on each candidate after the forums.
Candidates will tour the campus and meet with administrators during a working-lunch session, and will be interviewed separately by members of the board of trustees.
Dates for the forums are as follows: (all forums will be held from 1:00-2:00 pm each day)
Dr. James “J.W.” Kelley—Monday, February 26th
Dr. R. Chad Merrill—Tuesday, February 27th
Dr. Sheri L. Rowland—Wednesday, February 28th
After the interviews have concluded, the McDowell Tech Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, February 29th to choose their final candidate to become the next MTCC President. The NC Community College State Board will provide the final approval of the selected candidate on March 15th. Once the State Board votes, the Trustees will announce the name of the 7th president of McDowell Tech.
“The selection of a new president is one of the most consequential and important tasks delegated to community college trustees,” said Stroud. “We take that role very seriously and look forward to our candidate forums and the feedback we get from those who attend and participate. We hope to see you later this month.”
