FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino Community College District Governing Board is pleased to announce that they have selected three finalists for the presidency of the College. Public forums with each of the finalists are scheduled for the week of Oct., 3, 2022.
“We would like to thank all of the communities served by the College for your continued interest and support in the process to identify our next President,” said Dr. Nathaniel White, Board Chair. “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the Board Presidential Search Committee for their exceptional work and effort.”
The Coconino Community College presidential finalists are (in alphabetical order):
Eric Heiser, Ph.D., is Provost at Central Ohio Technical College in Newark, OH. He previously served as Dean and CTE Director at Salt Lake Community College in Salt Lake City, UT. Dr. Heiser earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Education and Human Resource Studies in Higher Education Leadership from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO; a Master of Arts in Adult and Post-Secondary Education and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Wyoming in Laramie, WY; and an Associate of Science in Business Administration from Central Wyoming College in Riverton, WY.
Teresa Leyba Ruiz, Ed.D., is President of Glendale Community College in Glendale, AZ. She previously served as Vice President of Student Affairs at Glendale Community College. Dr. Leyba Ruiz earned a Doctor of Education in Higher and Post-Secondary Education from Arizona State University in Tempe; a Master of Education from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff; and a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education from Arizona State University in Tempe.
Morgan Phillips, Ed.D., is Vice Chancellor for Academic Excellence for the Pima Community College District in Tucson, AZ. He previously served as Vice Chancellor of Educational Partnerships and Campus President for the Pima Community College District. Dr. Phillips earned a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration and an Education Specialists Degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL; a Master of Science in Mathematical Sciences and a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL; an Associate of Arts in Pre-Engineering Studies from Brevard Community College in Cocoa, FL; an Associate in Applied Science in Interpreter Education, Signed Languages from Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, NC; and an Associate in General Studies from Pima Community College.
The national search process that began in May, spearheaded by the Association of Community College Trustees, brought in 57 applications, with 30 candidates meeting the minimum qualifications.
“With the passage of Proposition 438 and the retirement of our outstanding and beloved Dr. Colleen Smith, CCC is poised to take the next step in serving Coconino County’s needs for accessible, affordable, post-secondary education and workforce development,” Dr. White said.
Public Forums
Each finalist will participate in three one-hour public open forums. The CCC District Governing Board invites and encourages everyone to participate in the open forums. The forums will be made accessible to all faculty, administrators, staff, students and the general public. No RSVP is needed. Forums will be in-person in the Board Room at the Lone Tree Campus, 2800 S. Lone Tree Road, and they will be available virtually for in-person viewing in designated rooms at the Fourth Street Campus, CCC Page Center and at a location in Williams to be determined. The forums will be recorded, and they will all be available via Zoom, with the links listed below.
There will be a brief introduction of each candidate followed by a question-and-answer session. All who participate in the forums will be asked to provide feedback to the District Governing Board via an online survey at the conclusion of each forum. Completed forms will be given to the board for their review. All responses are due by noon Arizona time on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022.
Forum Schedule:
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022
Dr. Morgan Phillips
- 9:30 a.m.: Open Forum – Focus College Staff and Students/https://coconino.zoom.us/j/91561550305?pwd=OHcrUFRLOURYWEk3Y0FlR2J4RjBXZz09
- 1:30 p.m.: Open Forum – Focus Community Members/https://coconino.zoom.us/j/94931583582?pwd=TFR2M3lyNGRVditPajFkQ0NKOUt2QT09
- 2:45 p.m.: Open Forum – Focus Faculty/https://coconino.zoom.us/j/93504485066?pwd=aFIwamRLVWQrZEtZWDBTME1PL09DUT09
Survey feedback link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/president-finalist-forum-phillips
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022
Dr. Teresa Leyba Ruiz
- 9:30 a.m.: Open Forum – Focus College Staff and Students/https://coconino.zoom.us/j/91633430053?pwd=dm02a0xnejFCeEtIN1p5cklGN1R2Zz09
- 1:30 p.m.: Open Forum – Focus Community Members/https://coconino.zoom.us/j/97699267500?pwd=VG02VTdldkNrVG5QNG9UYUVQTnh3UT09
- 2:45 p.m.: Open Forum – Focus Faculty/https://coconino.zoom.us/j/94266252421?pwd=SXUyL3dWUDBMSW1OMFI4eGdLQWpOQT09
Survey feedback link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/president-finalist-forum-leyba-ruiz
Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022
Dr. Eric Heiser
- 9:30 a.m.: Open Forum – Focus College Staff and Students/https://coconino.zoom.us/j/99255187767?pwd=RmpwT0E4cGJmVE81RytQU201aWcxUT09
- 1:30 p.m.: Open Forum – Focus Community Members/https://coconino.zoom.us/j/93899249412?pwd=alI0aVF5aW5PbXo4Y0ZqNnd3T1hMdz09
- 2:45 p.m.: Open Forum – Focus Faculty/https://coconino.zoom.us/j/97637794553?pwd=UUk2NVJRN3pzNlM3R0Rpc1ErdHQwUT09
Survey feedback link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/president-finalist-forum-heiser
Page Center/Fourth Street Campus Visits
Each finalist also will participate in visits to the Page Center, 475 S. Lake Powell Blvd., in Page, and the Fourth Street Campus, 3000 N. Fourth St., in Flagstaff.
Monday, Oct. 3, 2022
Dr. Morgan Phillips
- 10 – 11:30 a.m.: Meeting employees, community leaders and students at the Page Center
- 4:30 – 6 p.m.: Structured meet and greet at the Fourth Street Campus
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022
Dr. Teresa Leyba Ruiz
- 10 – 11:30 a.m.: Meeting employees, community leaders and students at the Page Center
- 4:30 – 6 p.m.: Structured meet and greet at the Fourth Street Campus
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022
Dr. Eric Heiser
- 10 – 11:30 a.m.: Meeting employees, community leaders and students at the Page Center
- 4:30 – 6 p.m.: Structured meet and greet at the Fourth Street Campus
About Coconino Community College — CCC has served residents across 18,000 square miles of Coconino County since 1991. The College has the goal of improving the lives of our residents through workforce development and higher education.
CCC provides affordable tuition and offers certificate programs and two-year associate degrees in academic and career fields. CCC also has programs that ease student transition to any of the three state universities.
CCC reaches out to the more rural portions of the County and Tribal Lands. Instructional sites offer classes through online, in-person and Zoom video conferencing classes to meet the needs of students in rural and remote areas. On average, one in five of CCC’s students are Native American learners.