by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC
The search for the next president at Kansas City Kansas Community College has moved into a new phase with the naming of three finalists for the position – Dr. Michael Calvert, Dr. Barbara Hanson and Dr. Greg Mosier.
Seventeen individuals from KCKCC and the community have served on the Presidential Search Advisory Committee.
The committee vetted 39 preferred applicants out of 75 applications. Those applicants were then narrowed to 10 semi-finalists who interviewed by video during the first week in March.
The new president tentatively is expected to be named by the end of April, according to the timeline. The KCKCC Board of Trustees will make the final decision.
The presidential finalists:
• Dr. Michael D. Calvert. Calvert has a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education from Northwestern College; a Master of Arts degree in physical education from the University of South Dakota; an Educational Specialist in Higher Ed Administration and Community College from Pittsburg State University and a Doctorate of Education in educational administration from Oklahoma State University. He is currently president of Pratt Community College in Pratt, Kan., a position he has held since 2013. His accomplishments during his tenure at Pratt include the college’s recognition by the Aspen Institute as a Top 150 Community Colleges in the Nation; leading the 2017-2022 Strategic Plan development and launch focusing on student success and recognition as a Siemens Technical Scholars Program Qualifier. Past positions include President – Vice President of Central Community College in Grand Island, Neb., and multiple positions at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kan., including Dean of Humanities and Social Science and Dean of Butler Learning Centers.
• Dr. Barbara M. Hanson. Hanson has a Bachelor of Arts in German-Music from the University of Arizona; a Master of Arts in German-Pedagogy-German Literature and a Master of Arts in English as a Second Language, both from the University of Arizona and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. She most recently was the Chancellor at Louisiana Delta Community College in Monroe, La. While at Louisiana Delta, she developed the first-ever Center of Excellence in Research for a two-year academic institution and developed and outsourced an Agricultural Aviation program, which resulted in greater student accessibility to quality programming. In addition, she provided leadership to re-invigorate and expand the focus and outreach of the Louisiana Delta Community College Foundation, turned around a failing Commercial Vehicle Operation Program and secured more than $5 million in Incumbent Worker Training Program grants, which provides training and service to regional and statewide affiliated business and industry. Past positions include Vice-President for Learning-Central Campus at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas; Vice-President for Instruction at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, N.C., and Dean of Instruction at Arizona Western College in Yuma, Ariz.
• Dr. Greg A. Mosier. Mosier has a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Scientific Photography from the Brooks Institute of Photography; a Master of Science in Management, Organizational Behavior and Strategic Management Emphasis from Troy State University and a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration- Community College Leadership from New Mexico State University. He is currently the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs for Rochester Community and Technical College in Rochester, Minn. While at Rochester, he has collaborated with local, state and national business entities to create new programs financially supported via public/private partnerships; has provided leadership and direction to expand RTC’s concurrent enrollment programs and led the development of a $22 million capital bonding project for new and remodeled facilities. Past positions include Vice President of Academic Affairs at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology in Okmulgee, Okla. and Dean of Career and Technical Education at Moberly Area Community College in Moberly, Mo.
The search committee chose to recommend to the KCKCC Board of Trustees the three finalists based on academic credentials, experience and leadership criteria. The finalists have been invited to the KCKCC campus for intensive interviews March 26 to 28. The community is invited to meet and talk with the finalists from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. each of the three days in Upper Jewell on the KCKCC Main campus, 7250 State Ave.
A five-month search was coordinated by Pauly Group, Inc., (PGI) a search firm contracted by the KCKCC Board of Trustees to facilitate the college’s presidential search. Faculty, staff, students and community members were invited to attend two days of listening sessions, hosted by PGI, in early December. The purpose of these sessions was to identify what qualifications and credentials would be expected in the next president.