Three finalists named for college post

Craven Community College named three finalists this morning for its president post, and trustees say they may select one June 24 for the school's top job.

The finalists are Catherine Chew, vice president for academic affairs at Orange County Community College in Middletown, N.Y.; Linda Thomas-Glover, provost and chief academic officer at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College in Elizabethtown, Ky.; and Mark O. Kinlaw, vice president for instruction and support services at Robeson Community College in Lumberton.

Kinlaw said he told trustees that he applied for the job because Craven Community College has a great reputation across the state.

"I like the size of the college and opportunities in the area with New Bern growing," he said. "It's a great professional opportunity. New Bern also offers a lot of cultural and educational opportunities that make it great for families."

Kinlaw's wife is a certified public accountant. Their children are 13 and 7.

He has worked in the state community college system for more than 20 years. He said he traveled to New Bern as a child to play in golf tournaments.

"I last visited the area eight years ago for a workshop," he said. "We all want to work in places that are desirable to live in. New Bern is a great place to live."

Catherine Chew is from Virginia and has family in the Charlotte area. Her son is a graduate student at Queens University. She said her husband is a retired educator and is interested in playing golf in New Bern. The Chews visited in December to see some friends who live in the Greenbriar community.

"I didn't know at that time that the position at Craven would be open," Chew said. "To be back in the south and have the Southern hospitality was a treat. I just can't say enough about how great the New Bern people are."

She toured the college's New Bern and Havelock campuses May 29 while she was in town to meet with trustees and the community.

"I picked up very quickly that the college has great support from public officials and the community," she said. "Under Scott Ralls' leadership, the school made great strides. I think it's primed to go to the next step."

She said the next step is to continue to develop partnerships with Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, area businesses and Craven Early College, a partnership with Craven County Schools.

Glover could not be reached for comment today.

More than 50 people applied for the president job between late February and early April. All of them were required to send e-mail and paper applications to the college.

A presidential search committee selected a group of finalists who sent in videocassette tapes with responses to interview questions. The committee and trustees selected six people to come to New Bern for in-person interviews and chances to meet the community. Trustees chose three of the six as finalists.

Dan Pritchett, chairman of the college's Board of Trustees, has said he would like to have one of the finalists on the job by Nov. 1.

"We believe any of these three candidates can lead the college into the future," Pritchett said. "I think any of these three candidates have the capacity to lead any institution. Obviously, one of them will be president of Craven in the near future."

The State Board of Community Colleges will review their applications and references and research their backgrounds. If the state approves all three, trustees may choose the college's next president at a meeting June 24, Pritchett said.

"It would be a public vote in an open meeting," he said. Trustees will send their choice to the state board for final approval.