Three semifinalists named for presidency of Inver Hills Community College

The names of three semifinalists for president of Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights have been submitted to James H. McCormick, chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. The semifinalists are Bradley Ebersole, John O’Brien and Tim Wynes.

The semifinalists were recommended by a search committee chaired by Ann Wynia, president of North Hennepin Community College.

Bradley Ebersole has been the vice chancellor for academic affairs at Baton Rouge Community College in Louisiana since 2005. Previously, he held two positions at Community College of Baltimore County in Maryland, first as director of the Hunt Valley College Center for Professional Development and director of Weekend College and then as assistant to the vice chancellor for learning and student development. He also has been an instructor at Yokohama City University in Japan, director of the Center for International/Intercultural Education, director of continuing education and community services, and coordinator of community use of college facilities, all at Catonsville Community College in Maryland. He holds a two-year degree from Catonsville Community College, a bachelor’s degree in community services, recreation and park administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, a master’s degree in community education from the University of Maryland, and a doctorate in education policy, planning and administration from the University of Maryland.

John O’Brien is currently on leave from his position as academic vice president and chief academic officer at Century College to direct the “Students First” project, a Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system initiative to improve student services. In 2008-2009, he served as acting president of Century College. Before becoming Century’s academic vice president, he was an associate vice chancellor and system director for instructional technology in the system office, and an instructor at Normandale Community College, Augustana College in South Dakota and the University of Minnesota. He also has been an adjunct instructor at Augsburg College and the University of St. Thomas and has taught at O’Gorman High School in Sioux Falls, S.D. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and education from Augustana College, a master’s degree in Anglo-Irish literature from the University of Dublin, Trinity College in Ireland and a doctorate in English from the University of Minnesota.

Tim Wynes has been chancellor of the Iowa Valley Community College District, a two-college, multi-center district in Iowa since 2002. Previously, he served as executive dean of governmental affairs, grants and college research and director of governmental affairs at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa; general counsel and director of the Division of Legal Services in the Missouri Department of Social Services; and a faculty member and assistant director of clinical law and clinic director at the University of Missouri School of Law. He has held adjunct positions at Iowa State University, Buena Vista University, St. Ambrose University, the University of Missouri Graduate School of Social Work and Missouri Southern State College. He also has worked as a litigator in the Boone and Jasper counties prosecuting attorneys’ offices in Missouri and in the Missouri Public Defender’s Office. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Cornell College in Iowa, a law degree from St. Louis University and is working on a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from Iowa State University.

The new president will replace Cheryl Frank, who is retiring. The chancellor, along with one to three members of the Board of Trustees and others, will conduct interviews with the semifinalists. McCormick will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees, which could act on the recommendation at a meeting March 17.