Stumpf recommended as interim president of ARCC and ATC
Dr. Jessica Stumpf
by Peter Bodley
Managing editor
The national search for a new president of both Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Anoka Technical College has ended without a candidate being chosen.
Instead, Dr. Jessica Stumpf, who has been interim president of Anoka-Ramsey since longtime president Dr. Patrick Johns left last summer, has been recommended as interim president of both colleges for one year.
Starting in July, Anoka-Ramsey and Anoka Tech will be aligned under one president.
Meantime, Dr. Shari Olson, interim president of Anoka Technical College, will leave April 30 to be president of an Arizona community college.
Earlier this month, a search committee comprising representatives from both colleges, had recommended three candidates to Minnesota State College and Universities Chancellor (MnSCU) Chancellor James H. McCormick for consideration as the new president from a short list of five that had initially been chosen as semifinalists.
They were Dr. Ron Erickson, president and chief executive officer of Hocking College in Ohio; Dr. Alex Kajstura, provost of the Norfolk campus of Tidewater Community College in Virginia; and Dr. Constance Mierendorf, senior adviser at Hudson County Community College in New Jersey.
McCormick had been scheduled to make a recommendation on the new president to the MnSCU Board of Trustees at its April 20 meeting following interviews of the three candidates by himself and three members of the board of trustees.
But instead McCormick recommended to the board of trustees April 20 that Stumpf become interim president of the two colleges.
According to McCormick, no finalist for the presidency emerged from the national search process.
A new search for a permanent president will begin later this year, McCormick said in a press release.
“Interim President Stumpf is experienced and well-qualified to begin the alignment of these two colleges under one leader,” he said.
“I am confident that she will create a firm foundation for the two institutions to realize new efficiencies and better student services.”
Under MnSCU regulations, college interim presidents cannot be considered candidates in the permanent presidential search process.
Stumpf previously served as vice president of academic affairs at Minnesota State College – Southeast Technical; dean of business at Hennepin Technical College; dean of transportation, coordinator of customized training, coordinator of enrollment and marketing and business instructor, all at Dakota County Technical College; and business instructor at Century College.
She earned an associate degree at St. Cloud State University, a bachelor’s degree in business education at Buena Vista University in Iowa, a master’s degree in business administration at Metropolitan State University and a doctorate in educational policy and administration at the University of Minnesota.
Last fall, McCormick announced that the two colleges would be aligned with one president, but not merged. Each would remain independent of the other.
The alignment of the two colleges means that each college will retain its own name, mission and accreditation, according to McCormick.
“It is essential that the colleges retain their identity and distinct nature as they serve differing student populations,” McCormick said in his announcement.
Anoka-Ramsey’s two campuses have a total of 12,000 students, while Anoka Technical College enrolls 3,400 students.
Peter Bodley is at peter.bodley@ecm-inc.com.
