New president formally appointed at Oakton Community College

Joianne Smith formally was appointed this week as president of Oakton Community College, effective July 1.

The college board of trustees voted unanimously to promote Smith, currently Oakton's vice president of student affairs, to the top job. Trustees announced their selection of Smith earlier this month. She will succeed longtime President Margaret Lee, who is retiring after 30 years at Oakton - the last 20 as president.

While school officials say Smith's two-year employment agreement is still being finalized and may not be available until next week, they did say she will earn a base salary of $265,000 during the first year of the contract.

She will become the fourth president in Oakton's 45-year history.