Presidential search set to start once more, AC sets for new president by December

Graphic by Mia Flores

By Anna Monroe
Senior Reporter

A new school year means a new start, particularly a re-start in the search for Amarillo College’s new President. Last year, after almost a year-long decision process, the schools Board of Regents came up empty handed with no President. The search has reopened as of July 29, 2024 and a final decision said to be announced December 2024. 

Students will also be part of the interview process once the search committee has developed a list of semi-finalists which AC officials expect to be completed by late September. “Some students will be asked to serve on a student interview panel so the Regents can get their input,” Denese Skinner, Interim President, said.

According to Bob Austin, vice president of enrollment management, students serving on the interview panel will be pulled from a community of students who are active on campus. 

The committee will then narrow the candidate list down to a smaller group of finalists who will be invited for on-campus visits and community forums in mid-October and into November. “Students are invited to participate in the open forums where each of the finalists will make a presentation to the community,” Skinner said. “Students are invited to submit questions ahead of time for the candidates to address.”

The interview process has also changed after the committee’s last, unsuccessful, hiring attempt. “We discovered that we needed to allow more time for each of the interview panels to spend with the candidates. It felt rushed,” Skinner said, “We needed more time to get to know the candidates.”

Some things have not changed, however, as the committee is still using Gold Hill Associates as the employment agency to screen applications and inform the committee.

The Board of Regents, who are ultimately responsible for hiring the College President, have outlined several qualities they are looking for in a president. “Those can be found on the president’s page of the AC website, in the Presidential Search Profile Document,” Cheryl Jones, vice president of human resources, said, “The Board of Regents is committed to hiring someone who has proven experience in helping students succeed, and who will use data to make decisions to help student success increase at AC.” 

The application closes Sept. 8 and the Board of Regents will meet on Nov. 19 to select the lone presidential finalist.