Tri-C narrows search for next president

Three finalists remain

“The Presidential Search Advisory Committee has done an incredible job over the past six months, selecting seven candidates from a diverse pool of 29 applicants...” — Tri-C Trustee Victor Ruiz

Following a series of virtual interviews, the Cuyahoga Community College Presidential Search Advisory Committee has identified three finalists for consideration as the college’s new president.

“The Presidential Search Advisory Committee has done an incredible job over the past six months, selecting seven candidates from a diverse pool of 29 applicants, then arriving at three highly qualified finalists,” Tri-C Trustee Victor Ruiz, who also serves as committee chair, said in a news release. “We look forward to welcoming the finalists to Cleveland over the next several weeks as we take these final crucial steps toward naming the college’s next president.”

The finalists are:

• Michael A. Baston

Since becoming president in 2017, Baston has led numerous initiatives spurring growth and increasing educational pathways at Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York, according to the release. Under his guidance, the college launched a new hospitality and culinary arts center, career skills and English skills academies to address middle-skill workforce needs and secured $30 million in grant, capital and other funding.

As a national Guided Pathways and Equity Transfer Initiative coach for the American Association of Community Colleges, Baston is noted for his work with two- and four-year college leadership teams across the nation, helping them integrate student success initiatives to advance college completion and labor market entry success. • Annette Parker

In 2013, Parker became the first woman and person of color to serve as president of South Central College, a community college in Faribault and North Mankato, Minnesota. Her industry knowledge and broad higher education experience have helped her serve students and the community, according to the release.

In 2017, Parker supported a grassroots effort that culminated in the college joining Achieving the Dream and in 2022 South Central became an ATD Leader College.

She also works closely with state and federal officials to secure capital bonding and state and federal grant appropriations, most recently a $2.06 million earmark in the federal omnibus spending bill to develop a manufacturing workforce in partnership with business and industry. She has secured more than $40 million in grants that support SCC’s programs, partnerships, and strategies during her tenure. • Colette Pierce Burnette Cleveland native Pierce Burnette is president and CEO of Huston-Tillotson University, the oldest institution of higher learning — and only historically Black university — in Austin, Texas.

Since her 2015 arrival, Burnette has been focused on ensuring that any and all barriers to student success are addressed and, ultimately, eliminated, the release stated. She has led Huston-Tillotson to forge partnerships with organizations such as Apple, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Indeed and Bank of America, along with independent school districts and sister institutions of higher education throughout the region.

The finalists will visit Tri-C on April 7, 11 and 13 to meet with various stakeholders and participate in town hall forums with students, faculty, staff and community members. Town halls will take place in person and will be livestreamed.

Following the candidate visits and review of college and community feedback, the board will select Tri-C’s next president. An announcement is expected in early May.

The new president will succeed Alex Johnson, who will step down June 30.