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Field of applicants for PHSC president narrowed to a dozen

 
Published Jan. 29, 2015

NEW PORT RICHEY — For the first time in a decade, Pasco-Hernando State College needs a new leader. And the search committee charged with finding top applicants wants to make sure they find the best match.

So when the panel met Tuesday, it recommended 12 candidates for trustees to interview via videoconference — even though only four had more than half of the members' votes.

"Certainly they're qualified, and maybe they're the most qualified. But are they the right fit? That's what the phone interviews will tell us," search committee chairman Ed Blommel said.

Topping the list with the most votes, 20 of 23, is Tim Beard, PHSC's vice president of student development for the past seven years.

Also getting more than 12 votes are Richard Schrubb, recently retired president of Minnesota West Community and Technical College; Steven Burrell, vice president for information technology at Georgia Southern University; and Stanley Giannet, PHSC Porter Campus provost.

Others on the list, which was reduced from 39 applicants who met the qualifications, are:

• Flora Tydings, president, Athens Technical College, Ga.

• Rhonda Tracy senior vice president, West Virginia University Parkersburg.

• Patrick Schmitt, chancellor, West Valley-Mission Community College District, Calif.

• Darren Divine, vice president, College of Southern Nevada.

• Emery Alford, dean, Florida SouthWestern State College.

• Joseph Sarnovsky, executive vice president, Seminole State College of Florida.

• Tonjua Williams, senior vice president, St. Petersburg College.

• Roberto Gutierrez, president, Klamath Community College, Ore.

Committee members deleted the name of Terrence Burgess, a longtime California college president, after lengthy conversations.

Though deeming Burgess a "rock star" among the applicants, committee members worried that he was at the end of a long career and might not stay long at PHSC. Burgess said in a questionnaire he would seek to stay five to seven years.

No one wanted to pay the costs of a candidate's relocation so the person could retire in Florida. At the same time, others said they did not want to limit the trustees' options.

In the end, though, they left Burgess off the list, saying the other candidates appeared to better fill PHSC's needs.

Trustees are scheduled to talk to the dozen candidates on Feb. 10 and 11, with a goal of narrowing the field to three or four.

The finalists would be invited to campus interviews between Feb. 24 and March 18. PHSC's fourth president is expected to begin work in July.

Current president Kathy Johnson plans to retire at the end of June.

Contact Jeffrey S. Solochek at jsolochek@tampabay.com.