Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) has named three semifinalists who are under consideration to be president of Riverland Community College. The candidates are Adenuga Atewologun, Mary Davenport and Annette Parker.
The candidates were recommended by a search advisory committee comprised of students, faculty, staff and community leaders and chaired by Tim Wynes, president of Inver Hills Community College. The candidates are scheduled to visit the campuses of Riverland Community College between February 21 and 26, 2013. The campus visits present an opportunity for faculty, staff, students and members of the community to meet and offer feedback on each of the candidates. Details of the candidates’ campus visits and the process for providing feedback are available at the Riverland Community College Presidential Search web page.
Adenuga Atewologun has served as vice president, academic affairs and dean of faculty at Prairie State College since 2009. Previously, he was an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow at Bellevue College (WA) from 2008-2009; the dean of the Natural and Applied Sciences Division, interim dean of the Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences Division, and associate dean and assistant to the interim dean of the Natural Sciences Division at College of DuPage from 1997-2008. He has served on the faculty at the College of DuPage, Parkland College, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Ife (Ile-Ife, Nigeria) and a master’s and a doctorate in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He will visit the Austin and Albert Lea campuses of Riverland Community College on Monday, February 25, and the Owatonna campus on Tuesday, February 26.
Mary Davenport has served as the interim vice president, academic and student affairs at Riverland Community College since 2012. Previously, she served as interim dean, health and service programs, legislative liaison and special assistant to the president at Saint Paul College from 2011-2012; executive director for state and federal government relations, director, federal government relations, and system director, educational grant programs, academic and student affairs at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities from 1995-2011; the Tech Prep program manager at the Minnesota Technical College System from 1993-1995; and the vice president for curriculum, program and staff development at Hibbing Community College from 1988-1993. She has served on the faculty of Colorado State University, the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Bemidji State University, Metropolitan State University (CO), Chippewa Valley Technical College, and Truman State University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics Education from the University of Wisconsin-Steven Point, master’s degrees in Textiles and Related Art and Home Economics Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, an education specialist degree in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, and a doctorate degree in Education and Human Resource Studies-Occupational and Education Studies from Colorado State University. She will visit all three campuses (Albert Lea, Austin, and Owatonna) of Riverland Community College on Thursday, February 21.
Annette Parker has served as the system executive director, National Center of Excellence in Advanced Automotive Manufacturing and the system director, Workforce Education at the Kentucky Community & Technical College System since 2007. Previously, she was the department chair, Manufacturing Engineering Technologies at Lansing Community College from 2002-2007. She has served on the faculty of Lansing Community College teaching college students, corporate employees, and dual-enrolled K-12 students. She holds an associate degree in Industrial Drafting from Lansing Community College, a bachelor’s degree in Technical Education and a master’s degree in Career and Technical Education from Ferris State University (MI), and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Western Kentucky University. Parker will visit all three campuses (Albert Lea, Austin, and Owatonna) of Riverland Community College on Friday, February 22.
The MnSCU Board of Trustees is expected to act on Chancellor Steven Rosenstone’s recommendation on a final candidate at its March 20 meeting. The new president is expected to begin in July 2013.
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system includes 24 two-year community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving more than 420,000 students. It is the fifth-largest higher education system of its kind in the United States.