Posted: February 13, 2015
Contact: Doug Anderson, doug.anderson@MinnState.edu, 651-201-1426
ST. PAUL, Minn., February, 13, 2015 – Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has named three semifinalists who are under consideration to be president of Northland Community and Technical College. The candidates are Dennis Bona, Gerald Giraud, and Tony Summers.
Dennis Bona
The candidates were recommended by a search advisory committee comprised of students, faculty, staff, and community leaders, and chaired by Kent Hanson, president of Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Anoka Technical College. The candidates are scheduled to visit Northland’s campuses between February 17 and February 19. The campus visits present an opportunity for faculty, staff, students, and members of the community to meet each of the candidates and offer feedback.
Dennis Bona has been president of Kellogg Community College (MI) since 2010. From 1981 to 2010, he served Kellogg Community College in a number of other capacities including vice president for instruction (2003-2010), dean of career and occupational education (1999-2003), and director of the Regional Manufacturing Technology Center (1991-1999). He holds an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree from Ferris State University, and a master’s and a doctorate from Western Michigan University. He will visit Northland on February 17: the East Grand Forks campus beginning at 7:30 am and the Thief River Falls campus beginning at 2:00 pm.
Gerald Giraud
Gerald Giraud has served Northwest College (WY) as vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer since 2012. Previously, he served Oglala Lakota College as vice president for instruction and chief academic officer (2005-2012) and as its director of assessment and institutional research (2004-2005). He holds a bachelor’s degree from Regents College of the State University of New York and a master’s and a doctorate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He will visit Northland on February 19: the East Grand Forks campus beginning at 7:30 am and the Thief River Falls campus beginning at 2:00 pm.
Tony Summers
Tony Summers has served Richland College (TX) as vice president for student services since 1993. Previously, he served the Community College of Allegheny County as the director of minority affairs (1986-1993) and as the director of financial aid for the Boyce Campus (1981-1986). He holds an associate degree from the Community College of Allegheny County, a bachelor’s degree from Duquesne University, a master’s from the University of Pittsburgh, and a doctorate from Walden University. He will visit Northland on February 18: the East Grand Forks campus beginning at 7:30 am and the Thief River Falls campus beginning at 2:00 pm.
The MnSCU Board of Trustees is expected to act on Chancellor Steven Rosenstone’s recommendation of a final candidate at its March 18 meeting. The new president is expected to begin in July 2015.
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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