Dr. Andrew F. Brimmer, chairman of the Presidential Search Committee for Tuskegee University, and chairman of its Board of Trustees, recently announced that the Committee has selected a nationally recognized executive search firm to assist in the effort to find a successor for Dr. Benjamin F. Payton, who had announced his plans to retire no later than June 30, 2010 after 28 years of service.
The Committee first published an announcement and solicited candidates and recommendations in The Chronicle of Higher Education. The responses to the invitation were positive, and the Committee received a number of applications, Brimmer said.
The Presidential Search Committee also sent a Request for Proposals to a list of nationally recognized search firms, seeking their assistance in the quest for a candidate of national prominence.
More than a dozen firms responded, and three of them were especially competitive. In the end, the firm engaged by the Committee is Hodge Partners of Atlanta. The partner in the firm who will head the Tuskegee project is J. Veronica Biggins. She has been responsible for a number of major presidential searches, some of which include Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Biggins served as assistant to President Bill Clinton and was director of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel. In that role, she was responsible for identifying and recommending the 1,300 or more political appointees that are under the direct control of the president. Biggins also has 20 years of experience at the senior official level with Nations Bank (now Bank of America). One of her positions was director of human resources for one of the largest banks in the country, which is based in North Carolina.
The Committee’s existing invitation to candidates to compete for the presidency of Tuskegee University will remain outstanding, and applications received in response to the invitation will be evaluated by the Committee. The most promising applications will be forwarded to the search firm to be further evaluated along with candidates identified by it.
A timeline has been established, and the search firm will recommend five highly qualified candidates to be president of Tuskegee University no later than the end of February 2010. No names of potential candidates will be released until the final process has been completed, according to Brimmer.
Adult student info sessions
Adults who wish to return to college or secure additional career training are invited to attend one of several upcoming Adult Student Information Sessions sponsored by St. Louis Community College. The free events will be held concurrently at 6 p.m. on all four STLCC campuses, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 6.
The sessions are being offered in response to increased interest in postsecondary education by adult district residents. STLCC has experienced close to a 12 percent growth in enrollment in fall 2009 alone.
The 60-minute sessions will address topics of special interest to adult students who plan to switch careers or wish to advance in their current jobs. Attendees will have an opportunity to gather information about the 100-plus career and technical training programs offered by STLCC, along with college transfer programs that allow students a low-cost option for completing the first two years of a four-year college degree.
Potential students will learn about flexible class options for busy adults, as well as resources available to help pay for college. In addition to the presentation, staff will be on hand to answer questions and assist students in getting started at St. Louis Community College.
Subsequent Adult Student Information Sessions will be held Nov. 18, Jan. 6, March 2 and April 21 on each of STLCC’s four campuses: Florissant Valley, 3400 Pershall Road; Forest Park, 5600 Oakland Ave., Meramec, 11333 Big Bend Road; and Wildwood, 2645 Generations Drive.
For more information or to register, visit www.stlcc.edu/AdultInfoNight or call 1-314-539-5002.
