Semifinalists for President of Rochester Community and Technical College Named

Campus visits scheduled for February 27-28

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) has named two semifinalists who are under consideration to be president of Rochester Community and Technical College. The candidates are Laura Urban and Gary Wheeler.

The candidates were recommended by a search advisory committee comprised of students, faculty, staff and community leaders and chaired by Rassoul Dastmozd, president of Saint Paul College. The candidates are scheduled to visit the campus of Rochester Community and Technical College on February 27 and 28, 2013. The campus visits present an opportunity for faculty, staff, students and members of the community to meet and offer feedback on each of the candidates.

Laura Urban has served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Gateway Community and Technical College (KY) since 2010. Previously, she was the chief academic officer and academic dean at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College from 2006-2010; the director of institutional effectiveness and dean of instructional planning at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College from 1997-2006; and the director of the Small Business Development Center and the Outreach Program manager at the University of Wisconsin-Superior from 1990-1997. She has served on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Superior, and the University of Maryland-European Division, and as an adjunct instructor for Northland College and Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College. She served the Directorate of Resource Management, Department of the Army from 1986-1988 and the Army Continuing Education System (ACES) from 1979-1986. Urban holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Northland College, a master’s degree in College Student Personnel Administration from Colorado State University, and a doctorate in Education from Capella University. She will visit the campus of Rochester Community and Technical College on Wednesday, February 27.

Gary Wheeler has served as the president for Glen Oaks Community College from 2007 to the present. Previously, he was the president of Gogebic Community College from 2005-2007; and in various roles at Miami University Middletown (OH) including senior associate executive director for academic affairs, executive director and director of the Continuing Education, Business and Industry Center, and director of student affairs and athletics between 1988 and 2005. He has served on the faculty of Ferris State University, Miami University (OH), and Prescott College. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Art and Art History from the University of Connecticut, a master’s degree in Art and Art History from Arizona State University, and a doctorate in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences [Higher Education Administration] from Union Institute & University. Wheeler will visit the campus of Rochester Community and Technical College on Thursday, February 28.

The MnSCU Board of Trustees is expected to act on Chancellor Steven Rosenstone’s recommendation on a final candidate at its March 20 meeting. The new president is expected to begin in July 2013.