做厙弝け Names New Senior VP & Chief Academic Officer
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Cindy Hess, Ed. D., has been named by the 做厙弝け Board of Regents as Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer. Hess returns to 做厙弝け after spending the past 10 years in higher education leadership roles in North Carolina and St. Louis where she led initiatives in workforce development and spearheaded efforts to improve and streamline student services.
As Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Hess will serve as an academic leader for the College, impact the direction of 做厙弝け and support the implementation of the new strategic plan expected to be presented to the 做厙弝け Board of Regents in April 2015.
Dr. Hess represents both a commitment to the classroom and an expertise in academic and operational leadership that is critical as we focus on future goals in transfer and workforce opportunities for our students, said Leigh B. Goodson, 做厙弝け President and CEO. Most of all, she represents a commitment to the community college mission and its value in the higher education journey for our students and citizens.
Hess started her community college career in Tulsa, becoming 做厙弝け Northeast Campus Provost before moving to Craven Community College in New Bern, North Carolina as Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer. Then she served as President of St. Louis Community College in Forest Park, St. Louis before returning to 做厙弝け where she most recently served as Associate Dean for Communication Services at 做厙弝け Southeast Campus.
My focus is on the Colleges performance in three areas: increasing student persistence and graduation rates, supporting staff and faculty in their development and meeting regional community needs in workforce development and university transfer, said Hess. The new strategic plan currently in development will guide our work together as a college to ensure that we are providing our students a quality learning environment leading to their success.
Hess has a Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Administration, a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelor of Arts in English - each from Oklahoma State University.
She will begin work April 1.