AVONDALE, Arizona (PRWEB) March 29, 2016
Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC), one of the 11 colleges of the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD), will be holding public forums April 13 and 14 for the three finalists competing for the position of the Vice President of Learning. The forums are free, open to students, faculty, staff and community members, and are held in the Estrella Conference Center on the EMCC campus, located at 3000 N. Dysart Rd., in Avondale, Ariz.
Each of the forums will provide an opportunity to individually feature the final candidates, allowing for a brief introduction, the candidate’s own presentation of qualifications, and a question and answer session with attendees.
- Forum 1: April 13, 1:00 – 2:15 p.m. – candidate Dr. Tia Robinson
- Forum 2: April 13, 2:30 – 3:45 p.m. – candidate Dr. Rey Rivera
- Forum 3: April 14, 1:00 – 2:15 p.m. – candidate Dr. Kathleen Iudicello
Candidate biographies are included below.
The role of the Vice President of Learning includes multiple responsibilities, with leadership and oversight of all instructional (academic and workforce) programs, learning support areas and activities, workforce development and community partnerships, and strategic planning for credit and noncredit programs. As the Chief Academic Officer for EMCC, areas of direct report include: general education; developmental education; workforce development; fine and performing arts; the EMCC library; tutoring and academic support services; and – in partnership with Student Affairs – counseling, dual enrollment, and fitness and wellness. The position directly reports to the college president and collaboratively works as a member of the college’s executive leadership team to advance the strategic goals and objectives of the institution.
The job was posted January 4, 2016, and closed on February 14, 2016, and included a national search through various employment mediums.
Dr. Tia Robinson was the former Dean of Teaching and Learning at Rock Valley College, an Illinois Community College. She has led successful reaffirmation accreditations for Higher Learning Commission, Accreditation Council of Business Schools and Programs, American Association of Medical Assistants, and the Commission of Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. Robinson has provided leadership for numerous academic programs and departments. She has an Associate of Science degree from Kishwaukee Community College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Northern Illinois University. Robinson earned both a Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Managerial Leadership Development from National Louis University. She earned a doctoral degree in Counseling, Adult and Higher Education from Northern Illinois University.
Dr. Rey Rivera currently serves as the Vice President of Learning at South Mountain Community College (SMCC), also a MCCCD college. Prior to his role at SMCC, he was a Math faculty member at EMCC for 15 years. While at EMCC, Rivera held several leadership positions by serving as the Division Chair of Science and Mathematics, Faculty Senate President, Principal Investigator for two National Science Foundation grants, and Interim Dean of Occupational Education. Rivera completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics at the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Science degree in Mathematics at Purdue University, and a doctoral degree in Higher and Post-Secondary Education at Arizona State University.
Dr. Kathleen Iudicello is currently the Dean of Academic Affairs at EMCC. She served as a residential English faculty member at EMCC for 16 years, and during that time, served four terms as Division Chair and one term as Faculty Senate President. Iudicello also served as Faculty President-Elect and then briefly as President of the MCCCD Faculty Association. Awards of distinction include the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Award for her leadership as Division Chair, and the Estrella Mountain Woman of Distinction Award. Iudicello attended Scottsdale Community College, also an MCCCD college, before transferring to Arizona State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in English. She earned a Master of Arts and Doctorate of Philosophy degrees in English from George Washington University, and is a published member of the professoriate.
Estrella Mountain Community College is one of the 11 colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District, one of the largest community college districts in the nation. EMCC offers academic courses leading to associate degrees, university transfer, certificates and short-term job training to more than 14,000 students annually. The flagship campus is located on Thomas and Dysart roads in Avondale and is home to the SouthWest Skill Center. Classes are also offered online and at EMCC’s Buckeye Educational Center, located in downtown Buckeye, Ariz.