MCC launches nationwide search for new president

McHenry County College will soon begin a regional and national search for a new college president, officials said Tuesday.

MCC President Vicky Smith announced a day earlier she will be retiring on Dec. 31.

“I'm delighted for her,” said Ron Parrish, MCC board chairman who was part of the interviewing/selection committee that hired Smith in July 2010. “She is going to be moving into a totally new life venture. I wish her well.”

Smith came to MCC after serving as vice president of Neosho County Community College in eastern Kansas.

“It is with mixed emotions that I made this decision,” Smith said in a statement. “I am very proud of where McHenry County College is today. Because of our progress, I feel that this is a good time to enter into retirement and accomplish some other personal goals that I have for myself.”

During nearly five years at the college's helm, Smith was instrumental in developing new programs and curriculum, and reaching out to nontraditional students, Parrish said.

Among those is the membership-based Retired Adult Program, which provides senior citizens continuing education and information on a variety of subjects from alternative religions to learning smartphone and tablet skills to writing their own memoirs.

“It's just been really a gift to the community,” Parrish said. “We've also done a lot with the health care program ... we have progressed a lot in our manufacturing and automotive technology area. We've done a lot, and we've done it together.”

Parrish said he is looking forward to expanding on those achievements with the next college president.

The vacancy has not been advertised as yet. The president's base salary is between $210,000 and $220,000 yearly with added perks.

“The trustees and I will develop a plan and prioritize the approach,” Parrish said. “We need to look internally at the college itself. We need to look externally and we need to look nationally through two major organizations — the Association of Community College Trustees and the Illinois Community College Trustees Association. Both of those are great resources for human resource development and searches. We're open minded. We're looking for a good leader with academic interest and experience.”

Anyone interested in the position can contact trustees via email through the college website, mchenry.edu.