Kirkwood Community College launches presidential search

CEDAR RAPIDS - Kirkwood Community College officially is accepting applications from those wishing to become the school's next leader - a 'creative, energetic, self-motivated individual with strong communication skills, professional appearance, positive attitude and demonstrated leadership and organizational skills.”

The Cedar Rapids-based school announced this week it's taking nominations and applications through Sept. 15 - in hopes of hiring someone to start next July 1, when outgoing Kirkwood President Mick Starcevich plans to retire.

A 17-member presidential search committee began meeting after Starcevich in January announced his plans to leave. The group has crafted a job description for Kirkwood's fifth president, approved by the board of trustees, outlining minimum qualifications.

They include completion of an advanced degree from an accredited college or university and past experience as a president of an institution of higher education, experience as a superintendent of a K-12 school system, or at least five years of full-time administrative experience at the dean level or above in an institution of higher education.

Iowa's Board of Regents in the past two years has conducted three presidential searches - including one ongoing now at Iowa State University. In those searches, the board left open the possibility for non-traditional candidates - applicants from outside education, like Bruce Harreld, a former IBM executive with no administrative academic experience who was hired in 2015 as University of Iowa president.

Kirkwood's preferred qualifications for a new president - in addition to its minimum requirements - include completion of a doctoral degree, demonstrated ability with scholarly research and professional presentations, teaching experience at the college level, and 10 or more years of related experience in higher education administration.

Performance expectations, according to the Kirkwood job advertisement, include - among many things - an ability to communicate clearly, a currency in higher education research and instructional pedagogy, skills in multi-tasking and dealing with conflict, and prowess in maintaining good working relationships with colleagues, staff, administrators and the public.

He or she also must 'welcome, value, and nurture people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, as well as support and promote an environment that accepts differences and celebrates diversity,” according to the job posting.

Kirkwood, which also has locations in Iowa City and across Eastern Iowa, has an annual credit enrollment of nearly 20,000 and more than 72,000 noncredit enrollments.

Starcevich, who turns 70 this year, is retiring after 14 years at Kirkwood - a tenure marked by the college's construction of a massive wind turbine, a 71-room hotel and four regional centers.

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