Semifinalists for President of Minneapolis Community and Technology College Named

ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 12, 2016 – Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has named four semifinalists who are under consideration to be president of Minneapolis Community and Technical College. The candidates are Julie Leidig, Sharon Pierce, Yves Salomon-Fernandez, and Muddassir Siddiqi.

The candidates were recommended by a search advisory committee comprised of students, faculty, staff, and community leaders, and chaired by Annette Parker, president of South Central College. The candidates are scheduled to visit the campus between February 16 and February 19, 2016. The campus visits provide an opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and members of the community to meet each of the candidates and offer feedback.

Julie Leidig has served as provost (chief academic and executive officer) of the Loudoun campus of Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) since 2010. Previously, she served Lone Star College – Montgomery (TX) as vice president of instruction, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board most recently as director of instructional programs. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, and master’s degrees and a doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin. She will visit the campus of Minneapolis Community and Technical College on Tuesday, February 16.

Sharon Pierce has served Howard Community College (MD) as the vice president for academic affairs since 2010; as chair of the Health Sciences Division from 2005 to 2010; as director of the nursing education program from 2001 to 2006; as the nursing course leader from 1993 to 2001; and she was on the nursing faculty from 1990 to 2001. She also served as a practicing nurse from 1978 to 1990. She holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s from the University of Maryland and a doctorate from Morgan State University (MD). She will visit the campus of Minneapolis Community and Technical College on Thursday, February 18.

Yves Salomon-Fernandez has served Massachusetts Bay Community College as interim president since 2015; vice president for strategic planning and partnership advancement and campus executive officer from 2013 to 2015; and dean of institutional planning, research, and assessment from 2010 to 2013. Previously, she served the University of Massachusetts Boston as director of planning and assessment, and Boston College as a research assistant in the Carnegie Teachers for a New Era (TNE) initiative. She has served on the faculty of Salem State University (MA), Cambridge College (MA), and Boston College. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts, a master’s from the London School of Economics, and a doctorate from Boston College. She will visit the campus of Minneapolis Community and Technical College on Wednesday, February 17.

Muddassir Siddiqi currently serves Morton College (IL) as provost/chief operating officer. He also has served Morton College as interim president in 2015; vice president of academics and student development from 2010 to 2014; and dean of career and technical education from 2009 to 2010. Previously, he served City Colleges of Chicago as executive director for manufacturing technology and skills programs. He also has been on the faculty of Lake Forest Graduate School of Management (IL), Benedictine University (IL), and Richard J. Daley College (IL). He holds a bachelor’s degree from NED University of Engineering and Technology (Karachi, Pakistan), master’s degrees from the Illinois Institute of Technology and Northern Alabama University, and a doctorate from Northern Illinois University. He will visit the campus of Minneapolis Community and Technical College on Friday, February 19.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees is expected to consider Chancellor Steven Rosenstone’s recommendation at its March 16 meeting. The anticipated start date of the new president is July 1, 2016.