The four finalists vying to be the next president of Allen Community College will be in town the first week of December for a round of interviews and meet-and-greets with the public.
Each finalist will participate in an open community forum, available for faculty, staff, students, and community members beginning Monday, Dec. 2 and continuing through Thursday. The forums are from 9 to 10 a.m. and from 3 to 4 p.m. in ACC’s Stadler Conference Room.
The public is invited to attend the forums as well as complete feedback forms, which will be reviewed by ACC board of trustees.
In order of their appearance on campus are:
Monday, Dec. 2
Mark Curtis-Chavez, Ph.D.
Curtis-Chavez is provost of the College of DuPage, the largest single campus community college in Illinois and its chief academic officer. In addition, he oversees continuing education, workforce, and the performing and visual arts programs of the McAninch Arts Center. Curtis-Chavez is an Aspen Institute 2020 – 2021 Rising Presidents Fellow and serves on the board of directors of the National Community College Hispanic Council.
With 20-plus years of experience in community colleges in teaching and leadership, Curtis-Chavez is deeply committed to its mission of open access and student success.
In his leadership roles, growing enrollment has been a hallmark of his career, most recently growing enrollment 5.8% at College of DuPage.
He has led these strategic enrollment management efforts in order to open doors of opportunity to under-served and under-resourced communities.
He has also been responsive to the community’s needs, building dual-credit programs and working with companies like Hewlett Packard and SAP to create new degrees and certificates. He has also built a Competency Based Education program, which led to many national presentations and consultations.
Moreover, Curtis-Chavez has helped increase student completion and success through building such college-wide programs as Guided Pathways, co-requisites, early alert, open educational resources, and bridge programs.
Curtis-Chavez has a PhD in higher education from the University of Toledo, a master’s degree in English from Northern Illinois University, and a bachelor’s degree in English from Indiana University.
Tuesday, Dec. 3
Samuel “Todd” Brand, Ph.D.
Brand has spent 25 five years working in the field of higher education. Originally from Mendenhall, Miss., he currently serves as interim president of Big Sandy Community & Technical College in Prestonsburg, Ken. Prior to that he spent five years as chief academic officer at Ashland Community & Technical College in Ashland, Ken.
For almost two decades, Brand was division chair of Fine Arts and Communication and as Arts & Letters Series Director at Meridian Community College in Meridian, Miss.
He also served as an assistant coach for three men’s basketball teams during his tenure at the college. While at MCC, he completed a Ph.D. program in community college leadership at Mississippi State University. Prior to MCC, he served as an instructor and assistant men’s basketball coach for two years at East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss.
Brand’s background is in television and radio. He holds a BS degree in Mass Communication and an MS degree in Communication from Mississippi College. Upon graduation from Mississippi College, he worked extensively in media. This included stints as on-air talent for both ESPN Radio Jackson, MS for 16 WAPT TV. From television and radio, Brand moved into the field of education.
Wednesday, Dec. 4
Kori A. Gregg, Ph.D.
Gregg is currently president and CEO of the Cowley College Foundation in Arkansas City. Prior to this position she served as vice-president for Institutional Advancement.
