Ozarks Technical Community College Vice President Cliff Davis is in the running for the president position at St. Charles Community College.
On April 18, the St. Louis area school’s trustees named Davis among four finalists for the position that will be vacated in September by retiring President John McGuire.
Davis wears two hats at OTC as vice president for institutional advancement and as executive director of the OTC Foundation.
Davis said he spoke to OTC President Hal Higdon before applying.
“He was very supportive,” Davis said. “It’s a real testament to OTC. It’s a compliment that an administrator here would be considered.”
Davis made the cut from 11 candidates – originally 45 – along with Richard Dawe, president of Ozarka College in Arkansas; Maureen Murphy, president of San Jacinto College South in Texas; and Joseph Sopcich, executive vice president of administrative services at Johnson County Community College in Kansas, according to a St. Charles Community College news release. The finalists will visit the school next week.
“It has been my interest to pursue a presidency at some point,” Davis said, drawing comparisons between St. Charles and OTC. “To me, it is one of the most desired presidencies in the state.
“We’re both the two newest community colleges in the state and deal with the same issues,” he added, pointing to OTC’s 20-year history and St. Charles’ 25 years, and similar growth and funding issues.
In fall 2010, St. Charles Community College recorded 8,290 students – roughly the enrollment at OTC five years ago.
Davis took the VP post at OTC in 2004, after working for 13 years at his alma mater, Missouri State University, as assistant to the vice president for student affairs and assistant to the president and director of government relations. He also served on the OTC Board of Trustees prior to his employment at the school.
During his tenure, the OTC Foundation exceeded a $10 million fundraising goal, he developed a comprehensive plan to retool OTC’s development education plan, and he participated in a successful Higher Learning Commission Self-Study Report, according to his biography.
He also has worked as vice president of community development and director of Leadership Springfield for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and served as president of the Missouri Community College Association’s board of directors in 2009.
He is currently pursuing a doctorate in education with an emphasis in instructional leadership and higher education administration from Lindenwood University.[[In-content Ad]]
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