Yavapai College approves $70,000 search for its next president
Marcus Whitfield
The Yavapai College Governing Board has approved a $70,000 contract with a Phoenix executive search firm to find the college's next permanent president, with the winner expected to take the job in January.
Board Chairman Steve Bracety, District 5, announced the official start of the search during a board meeting on Aug. 11. The board then voted 3-1 on a special meeting Aug. 17 to approve the contract with Cizek Associates, the firm that will lead the search.
"We look to have the final interview of candidates for the week of Monday, Nov. 16," Bracety said.
Until the new president is named, Provost Doug Berry, Ph.D., will continue serving as interim president. Under Governing Board Policy 405, an acting president is appointed from the senior leadership of the college when a vacancy occurs. Bracety said the board complied with that policy in appointing Berry.
The policy states that in the event the absence becomes permanent, the board must select a replacement after a widely advertised search.
Search firm and timeline
Cizek CEO Sheila Lehker called the timeline aggressive but "very doable." Lehker said the firm previously organized Berry's 2023 hire as provost and was engaged by the college in 2013 to find a vice president. Cizek has been hiring college executives for about 30 years.
The $70,000 fee does not include out-of-pocket expenses, according to the contract. Cizek will advertise the search, conduct preliminary reviews and interviews, report back to the search committee, and organize final interviews.
Board splits on process
The vote was not unanimous. District 2's Deb McCasland opposed the contract, arguing that it is too soon to approve a presidential search given that a new board may be seated in January after the November elections, which will determine the winners in Bracety's District 5 and the vacant District 4.
McCasland said a new board should vote on a succession contract and that the search has historically been handled by the Association of Community College Trustees. She also said there is no rush, because Berry is doing a strong job as interim leader.
District 1's Bill Kiel pushed back, noting that the board had previously adopted a new Code of Ethics under Board Policy 310 before McCasland was seated.
McCasland said she was the only current board member who was present during the previous presidential search. She has said she would like to be involved in the process, though 2018 board minutes show she requested placement on the 2018 search committee and was denied by a 3-2 vote.
Search committee
The board also voted 3-1, again with McCasland opposed, to appoint Bracety and board secretary Toby Payne, District 3, as the board liaisons to the search committee. The committee will include college executives, stakeholders, and community members who will meet throughout the process.
Yavapai College Chief Human Resources Officer Janet Nix said the two-liaison setup gives her backup as she manages the search. Payne said he would like to see long-time stakeholders and Native American representation on the public side of the committee, and Bracety said he hopes the committee will include both sides of the mountain as well as newer residents who may have future students in the community.
Background
Yavapai College's previous president, Jennifer Rhine, was placed on paid leave by the board in July. Rhine signed a contract to become president of Central Arizona College in Coolidge starting Sept. 1. The board voted at its most recent meeting to interpret the announcement of her hiring as a de facto resignation.