Semifinalists for President of Alexandria Technical and Community College Named

Campus visits scheduled for February 3 – 4, 2014

ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 29, 2014 - Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has named two semifinalists who are under consideration to be president of Alexandria Technical and Community College. The candidates are Dorothy Duran and Laura Urban.

The candidates were recommended by a search advisory committee comprised of students, faculty, staff and community leaders and chaired by Joyce Helens, president of St. Cloud Technical & Community College. The candidates are scheduled to visit the campus of Alexandria Technical and Community College on February 3 and February 4, 2014. 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. Details of the candidates’ campus visits and the process for providing feedback are available at the ATCC Presidential Search web page.

Dorothy Duran has served as vice president for academic affairs at Iowa Western Community College since 2006. Previously, she served at Northern New Mexico College as dean/director of the El Rito campus from 1998 to 2006, and at Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute from 1988 to 1996. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and sociology and a master’s degree in educational foundations from the University of New Mexico, and a doctorate in education administration from the University of Texas at Austin. Duran will visit on Monday, February 3, 2014.

Laura Urban has served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Gateway Community and Technical College since 2010. Previously, she served at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Community College (WI) as chief academic officer & academic dean from 2006 to 2010, and at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College from 1997 to 2006. She 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. Urban will visit on Tuesday, February 4, 2014.

The MnSCU Board of Trustees is expected to act on Chancellor Steven Rosenstone’s recommendation on a final candidate at the February 26 meeting. The new president is expected to begin in July 2014.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities include 24 two-year community, technical, and comprehensive colleges and seven state universities serving more than 430,000 students. It is the fifth-largest higher education system of its kind in the United States.

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