The Lone Star College System board of trustees appointed Steve Head, president of LSC–North Harris, to the open chancellor position July 1. Head was officially named chancellor 21 days after the board identified him as the lone finalist for the position June 10.
A search committee selected two finalists from 19 applicants after a vetting process that involved public forums at each of the six LSCS campuses and meetings with various college and community groups.
The other finalist, Michael Burke, president of Milwaukee Area Technical College, withdrew his application in mid-June, citing personal reasons.
Head said he expects the move to chancellor to be a smooth transition.
"I've been a System person for a long time," he said. "I started when we had 6,000–7,000 students. I'm very knowledgeable about the issues, not from the college perspective, but from the system perspective. I also know what the community is interested in."
Head received his doctorate in history from Texas Tech University and has served a number of roles with LSCS, including as executive vice chancellor, acting chief operating officer and president of LSC–Kingwood.
Head said among his top areas of concern are keeping finances in order, providing opportunities for professional development for employees and continuing to help students find success, including the further development of workforce programs and specialized centers. He also mentioned the importance of regularly reviewing employee compensation.
Head emphasized he does not plan to make any major changes to the way the system functions.
"We have a really good system," he said. "There is nothing broken here. We have a student plan that I would take anywhere. We're the leader in the state, and we have the opportunity to be the premier community college in the country. We want to continue on [that] path."
In describing his leadership style, Head also addressed the importance of communication and remaining transparent. One of the top issues that came up in his discussions with the faculty at each campus was the need to be visible and have regular forums, he said.
"I think the chancellor needs to be seen," he said. "People want to hear from the chancellor and make sure they are heard. Each of the colleges has its own personality, and it's important that we be consistent in what we do. That's where the system comes in."
Richard Carpenter, who served as chancellor since 2007, announced in February that he was retiring from the position. He plans to remain with LSCS as a consultant.
