Four candidates make final pitch for CCSN presidency

Jennifer Knight

Wednesday, May 16, 2001 | 10:16 a.m.

Members of the search committee were succinct in defining expectations as they relate to the search for a new president at Community College of Southern Nevada.

"What we need is to bring honor back to the institution," said Candace Kant, an economics professor at CCSN.

During the past two days the four remaining candidates met informally with faculty, staff and students, focusing on issues of autonomy, academic freedom and how to manage fast growth.

A search committee could decide on a new president as early as today. The committee's decision must then be approved by the Board of Regents.

"I liked them all in different ways," said Laura Moskowitz, the librarian at the college who attended all four candidate forums. "I think it's going to be a very difficult decision."

The search for a new president began in January 2000, after Richard Moore was selected to lead the effort for the proposed Nevada State College at Henderson.

The search has been delayed twice.

"I believe that how we got here was from an absolute destruction of our internal mechanisms," said Carolyn Collins, the department chair of physical sciences. "We need to have some infrastructure put in place."

The first day of the forum Monday featured Ron Remington, the president of the Great Basin College in Elko. Remington addressed CCSN's need for controlled growth and spoke of his support for full academic freedom.

Jack E. Daniels, president of Central College in Houston, stressed the importance of good community relations.

Candidate Shirley Reed, president of South Texas Community College, stressed her experience in budgeting and her ability for consensus building and networking.

Mary Spangler, who heads up Los Angeles City College, was the last to speak. Spangler talked about her experience in operating under a system of shared governance.

The overall impression, according to numerous interviews, was that Daniels was energetic -- reminiscent of former president Moore's enthusiasm -- but was leaving his present institution too soon. Remington was soft-spoken but talked intelligently about the needs at CCSN. Reed was well-versed in administrative tasks, budgeting and shared resources but lacked a teaching background. Spangler seemed to have a command of what the position of president was and how to balance all aspects, they said.

"I was extremely impressed by Spangler," said Calvin Hooks, CCSN's student government president. "She was extremely honest and straightforward and extremely committed to student services."

"Mary Spangler and Ron Remington would be my top two candidates," said Geoffrey Frasz, president of the Nevada Faculty Senate at CCSN and a member of the search committee.

The decision will include the input and votes of faculty committee members, not to mention the Board of Regents, who have gone against faculty opinion in the past.

"The bottom line is, if we've done the search well, then the decision will be very difficult," said Ruell Fiant, CCSN's faculty senate.