The ongoing national search to find the next president to lead Lone Star College's Montgomery campus is expected to wrap up by the end of April. The three remaining candidates will meet with students, faculty, staff and the community at a series of forums through April 23.
Former LSC-Montgomery President Austin Lane left the position in December after being promoted to executive vice chancellor for the system, a newly created position where he works alongside Chancellor Steve Head. With the passing of the LSCS bond election in May 2014 and the continued development of workforce programs, Head said the decision on who the next president will be is a crucial one.
"It's important that we give the students, faculty and the community a chance to interact with each candidate before making a final decision on such a critical leadership position," he said at an April 9 meeting of the board of trustees.
LSCS appointed Rebecca Riley as interim president in January. Riley, who has previously served as vice president of instruction and dean of arts and humanities at LSC-Kingwood, is one of the three candidates being considered for LSC-Montgomery president. Riley received her doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from Sam Houston State University.
Candidate Hector Aguilar has served as the executive dean of continuing education at Austin Community College since 1998, where he also served as the department chair of electronics and advanced technologies from 1998-2010. Aguilar received his doctorate in Educational Administration in the Community College Leadership program at the University of Texas at Austin.
Candidate Joseph Seabrooks has served as president of Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley in Kansas City since 2010 and as the president of MCC-Blue River from 2007-2012. He has also served in various positions with the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and the University of Missouri, Kansas City. Seabrooks received his Ph.D. in Urban Leadership and Policy Studies in Education and an education specialization in Higher Education Administration from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.
A finalist is expected to be chosen in late April, after the forums take place and the search committee makes its final recommendation to the LSCS board of trustees, Head said. The board's decision will be announced at a May 7 board meeting. The new president's first day will be determined based on their earliest availability.
Forums are set for the following times at LSC-Montgomery, 3200 College Park Drive, Conroe:
April 14—Hector Aguilar
- 1:15-2:15 p.m., open to students, staff and community, room G102
- 2:30-3:30 p.m., open to faculty, room G102
April 22—Joseph Seabrooks
- 1:15-2:15 p.m., open to students, staff, administrators and community, room G102
- 2:30-3:30 p.m., open to faculty, room G102
April 23—Rebecca Riley
- 1:15-2:15 p.m., open to students, staff, administrators and community, room G102
- 2:30-3:30 p.m., open to faculty, room G102
