ST. PETERSBURG — In the last month, five finalists for the job of St. Petersburg College president have taken campus tours and answered questions from students, faculty and staff.
They've shaken hands with community leaders. In interview after interview, they've sold their vision for the sprawling community college.
Their fate rests with the college's five trustees, who will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday to choose president William D. Law's successor. Law will soon retire after seven years at the helm.
The new leader will inherit fractured relationships between faculty and administrators after a faculty attempt to unionize. He or she will steer SPC through a projected budget shortfall of $6 to $10 million amid declining enrollment and after a legislative session that favored universities at the expense of community colleges.
Here's a look at each of the finalists.
Frank A. Biafora Jr.
Dean and professor, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Florida St. Petersburg
Biafora, 52, began as a professor before climbing the ranks of administration. Now he oversees academic programs, staffing and efforts to help students succeed for USF St. Petersburg's largest college.
He juggles community partnerships and fundraising. He helped craft a strategic plan under budget constraints and developed new degree programs aimed at boosting enrollment. He also shadowed SPC president Law during a fellowship.
If chosen, Biafora said, he would create a stronger SPC identity. He would champion an open and collaborative leadership style. His first priorities, he said, would be reaching out to the business community and focusing on workforce development.
Faculty, staff and community members praised his pragmatic approach in surveys they were asked to complete about each of the candidates. They liked his Tallahassee chops, budget know-how and classroom experience, which could "go a long way in healing the rift . . . between senior administration and faculty," as one person wrote.
"Frank would be the best of both worlds, an outsider with a real insider's perspective," another respondent wrote.
But some worried that moving from a university to a community college may be too risky a transition. "He would have a mountain to climb," one wrote.
Edward Bonahue
Provost and vice president for academic affairs, Santa Fe College (Gainesville)
Bonahue, 51, brought a background in arts to Santa Fe College, where he oversees the entire academic curriculum as well as workforce and economic development. Under his leadership, the college began offering baccalaureate degrees and has strengthened ties with business leaders.
At SPC, Bonahue said he would use data to inform decisions. Because he values transparency, he said, he would open up that data to faculty and staff and welcome shared decision-making. He said he would try to bridge rifts at SPC and would speak the faculty's language.
Bonahue's sense of humor and thoughtfulness won over survey respondents, who said he seemed keyed into SPC's culture. He was approachable, they wrote, with a clear desire to unite people and make the student learning process smoother.
"He knows we are a data-driven college, but sees beyond data to the heartbeat of SPC," wrote one respondent.
"Dr. Bonahue felt like an actual human being first and a strong candidate second," another said.
A few voiced concerns about Bonahue's experience with a college the size of SPC. "Making the leap to a multi-campus environment could present a challenge," one respondent wrote.
James Henningsen
President, College of Central Florida (Ocala)
Henningsen, 51, boasts more than 27 years in higher education administration, most in Florida's community college system. As president, he oversees more than a thousand faculty, staff and part-timers across many campuses. In tough budgetary times, he slashed millions in costs, eliminated out-of-date degrees and launched almost 40 new programs aimed at workforce needs to boost enrollment.
He stressed affordability and access for students, and efficiency and openness for administration.
Respondents liked his business background and leadership credentials, noting that he had "his finger on the pulse of what it will take to move forward in this trying time," and "is not afraid to roll up his sleeves" and fight in Tallahassee. He seemed student-focused, they wrote, but would also boost low staff morale with his good humor.
A few said Henningsen was long-winded, "but you can see his passion," one said.
Critics, and there were few, wanted more specifics and more teaching experience.
"Dr. Henningsen appeared to be all flash and no substance," one wrote.
Stan Vittetoe
Provost, St. Petersburg College (Clearwater)
Vittetoe, 62, brings a wide-ranging background in senior leadership and teaching at both two- and four-year schools. As the Clearwater campus' public face, he oversees hiring, budgeting and planning. He also evaluates degree offerings, focuses on workforce needs and works to create a supportive environment for students.
He emphasized his deep knowledge of SPC and the broader community. Vittetoe believes SPC can build more partnerships and become a national leader in workforce education. His five children went to community college, he said, so he is a believer in SPC's mission.
Capable, candid and even-tempered is how people described Vittetoe. They liked his practical approach to low enrollment, low morale and strained finances, such as approaching new initiatives with caution.
"We have been running from one initiative to another like balls in a pinball machine," one respondent wrote. "He would be a voice of reason."
"Willing to ask the hard questions," another said.
But several wanted to know more. Vittetoe's vision, told "in general terms," was "confusing and vague," respondents wrote. "He said all the right things, but I didn't hear how he intends to make the changes," another said.
Tonjua Williams
Senior vice president of student services, St. Petersburg College
Williams, 53, grew up in St. Petersburg and has spent 30 years serving SPC in academic and student affairs. She leads student services staff, including provosts at seven campuses. She deals with data-centric student initiatives.
Since an internal candidate risks blind spots, Williams said, she would assemble a transition team to guide her. She said she would enhance retention and recruitment efforts. All budget cuts, she said, should be weighed for their effect on students. She vowed to deepen ties with the business community, political leaders and faculty. And she said she would work to have students choose SPC as "the plan, not the fallback."
Williams has been a lightning rod for praise and criticism alike. Internal faculty polls revealed distrust, marking Williams their least favorite candidate. But her on-campus interviews garnered more than three times as many responses as other candidates, the vast majority of them positive.
State Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, wrote trustees a letter vouching for Williams' "integrity and passion for community."
Supporters appreciated her preparedness, integrity and "that something extra." Williams worked her way up with honesty, they said, and knows SPC inside and out. She understands the challenges of disadvantaged students and "is humble enough to know that she does not have every answer," as one said.
"Every conversation came back to the students," one wrote.
Trust from academics would be hard to earn, some wrote, since she has little classroom experience. Critics said her transition team was just a way to avoid revealing that "she has no new ideas." Hiring an outsider would be better.
"We need help here, not the same ol', same ol'," one critic said.
Times senior news researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report. Contact Claire McNeill at cmcneill@tampabay.com.