UNION – Roanoke-Chowan Community College’s search for a new president has been narrowed to three candidates, according to the school’s Board of Trustees.

Current RCCC President Dr. Michael Elam tendered his resignation earlier in the spring, effective June 30, after two years in the post. Elam is currently a candidate for the presidency of Wayne Community College in Goldsboro.

Meanwhile, the RCCC Board of Trustees launched an extensive nationwide search for the next president that netted more than 50 applicants. The Board narrowed the applicant pool to 10 semi-finalists with assistance from a search firm.

“We have worked diligently, and were able to recruit a strong and competitive pool of candidates that we feel will meet the needs of the College,” said RCCC Board of Trustees chairman Andre Lassiter. “After much deliberation, and intensive interviews, the Board is announcing we have selected three finalists for the position of president of Roanoke-Chowan Community College.”

The three finalists are:

Dr. Gary Brown, Ph.D., currently the Chief Operating Officer at Mercyhurst University North East Campus, North East, PA. Brown previously served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Mercyhurst University’s Erie, PA campus. Brown has been with Mercyhurst for the past 27 years in a variety of administrative roles, including Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the entire University, Executive Vice President, Executive Dean, and Associate Dean of Student Services.

Dr. Stanley Elliott, Ph.D., who is Vice President for Student Affairs at Shaw University, Raleigh. Previously, he served as the Director of CAPE (College of Adult and Professional Education) at Shaw University, Raleigh. Elliott has served in numerous capacities in higher education over the past 20 years, including: Vice President of Student Affairs, Dean of Students, Director of First Year Experience, and ADA Coordinator.

Dr. Jimmy Tate, Ed.D., Vice President for College Advancement and Strategic Initiatives at James Sprunt Community College, Kenansville. Previously, he served as the Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at James Sprunt Community College, and has nearly 20 years of community college and university experience, primarily at the Duplin County school. He is currently charged with the responsibilities for the College’s Human Resources Department, Strategic Initiatives, Internal and External Professional Leadership Development Programs, Campus Safety and Security, Male Mentoring Program, Student Government Association (SGA), Institutional Effectiveness, Research and Planning, Marketing, and Public Relations.

Each presidential finalist will participate in an open public forum on Thursday, June 23 at RCCC. Each candidate will be put under the local microscope, taking turns at the podium inside the Jernigan Building auditorium, and coming face to face with those they hope to serve.

“We encourage everyone to attend the open public forums,” Lassiter added.

The forums are open to all faculty, administrators, staff, students, and the general public. There will be a brief introduction of each candidate followed by a question and answer session. Feedback forms will be given to all who attend and the completed forms will be collected at the end of each forum and given to the Board of Trustees for review. The Board will then weigh their decision on which of the three candidates to recommend to the State Community College Board for appointment. The State Board is tasked with making the final selection.

The forum schedule is as follows:

One-hour public forums – Thursday, June 23 – Jernigan Building Auditorium, RCCC campus.

Stanley Elliott, Ph.D. from 9 – 10 a.m.

Gary Brown, Ph.D. from 11 a.m. – 12 noon

Jimmy Tate, Ed. D. from 1 – 2 p.m.