ShawneeDispatch.com

Johnson County Community College announced Tuesday that Terry A. Calaway, Coolidge, Ariz., has accepted the position of college president and will begin in that position July 1.

Calaway has been president of Central Arizona College since 2003. He also served there as vice president of academic and student services from 1999 to 2003. At Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, Ohio, he was the assistant vice president, workforce and economic development, 1996-1999, and dean/district director, division of continuing and professional education, 1993-1995.

In a released statement, Lynn Mitchelson, chair of the JCCC board of trustees, said the board was impressed by Calaway's experience with the League for Innovation in the Community College and with the Academic Quality Improvement Project, as well as his ability to build partnerships and the vision he's shown at Central Arizona.

"His references cited his integrity, honesty and commitment to the community college movement," Mitchelson said. "... Dr. Calaway was the unanimous choice of the trustees."

The college began its search last September to replace longtime president Charles Carlson, who resigned last year in the face of allegations of sexual harassment.

In the search for a new president, the college hired consultants Hockaday-Hunter and Associates, Sanford, N.C., to help with the process. A 16-member screening committee composed of representatives from the trustees, faculty, staff, students and the community reviewed applications and made recommendations to the board. The board then decided to bring five candidates to campus for interviews in January, February and March 2007.

During their visits to JCCC, each candidate met with students, faculty and staff; the college's Foundation; school district superintendents; and representatives from area chambers of commerce. In addition, the community had the opportunity to meet the candidate at a public reception. The board of trustees conducted a two-hour public interview with each candidate and met with each one for dinner.

The other candidates for the president's position were Eric E. Reno, president, Northeast Lakeview College, Alamo Community College District, San Antonio, Texas; Richard M. Rhodes, president, El Paso Community College, El Paso, Texas; and Zachary Hodges, president, Houston Community College-Northwest, Houston, Texas.