The Austin Community College District Board of Trustees has selected three finalists in the search to replace retiring President/CEO Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow.

The finalists are listed in alphabetical order. Follow the links to learn more about each finalist.

• Dr. Donald Doucette – Ivy Tech Community College (Indianapolis, Indiana), Senior Vice President and Provost
• Dr. Katherine Persson – Lone Star College System (The Woodlands, Texas), LSC-Kingwood President
• Dr. Richard Rhodes – El Paso Community College (El Paso, Texas), President

The finalists will visit ACC April 4-6 to take part in forums with faculty, staff, students, and the public. The tentative schedule for the internal forums is below, and the college will announce confirmed times after conferring with the finalists.

• Monday, April 4, 2011 9:30-11:00 a.m. 2:00-3:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 5, 2011 9:30-11:00 a.m. 2:00-3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 6, 2011 9:30-11:00 a.m.2:00-3:30 p.m.

The internal forums are scheduled during the mornings and afternoons to allow some degree of flexibility around work schedules (evenings are required for board executive sessions with the candidates). The forums will be hosted at Highland Business Center (map) due to ease of parking (overflow parking is available at Highland Mall) and in recognition that individual forums are not feasible at each campus.

“Each of these finalists would enhance ACC’s commitment to meeting the region’s diverse educational and training needs,” says Dr. Barbara Mink, ACC board chair. “The search has integrated college and community input over the course of many months, and we are confident this process will result in a leader who will further our mission and continue the vision laid out in the Master Plan.”

The Master Plan is a comprehensive strategy for accomplishing the college’s core goals: meeting enrollment targets, expanding instructional capacity, enhancing student success, and expanding fiscal capacity. The Student Success Initiative, a key element of the Master Plan, is a college-wide commitment to enhance learning and success for all students, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, race, or socio-economic status.

“By reaching traditionally underserved students and expanding in areas that need us most, we are making strides in closing educational gaps in Central Texas,” says Dr. Mink. “These finalists all recognize the opportunities and challenges ACC currently faces.”

The Board of Trustees is expected to announce the new president in May, and an official start date will be determined following the selection. Dr. Kinslow will remain in his role until the new president begins.

ACC launched a nationwide search for a new chief executive last summer, when Dr. Kinslow announced his plans to retire in 2011 after 34 years of service to the college, including six years as president.

The search has been a collaborative process, conducted with a 25-member Presidential Search Advisory Committee (composed of trustees, college faculty and staff, students, community and business leaders, and representatives from public and higher education). The committee recently held interviews with several candidates.

ACC’s website includes a complete overview of the search process and timeline. Visit austincc.edu/pres/search.