WSCC narrows presidential search to 11, more interviews planned in early April.

VICTORY TWP.  – The search for West Shore Community College’s next president has been narrowed from 60 applicants to 11 candidates.

The 11-member selection committee, appointed by the Board of Trustees last December, met in closed session all-day Friday to reduce the field of candidates, WSCC Director of College Relations Thom Hawley said late Friday afternoon.

The committee will Skype interview the 11 semi-finalists in an open meeting on Wed., April 8, and Thurs, April 9, Hawley said. The names of the semi-finalists will be announced on Mon., March 23, after they have all been notified.

Following the Skype interviews, the committee will recommend three to five candidates to the WSCC Board of Trustees who will conduct the final interviews. The date for those interviews will be announced later and will also be open to the public.

“I was extremely pleased with the pool of applicants we received,” said board trustee Bruce Smith who is chairing the search committee. “Applications were received from all over the country and they were diverse both in the applicants’ backgrounds and experience. We are looking forward to the next round of Skype interviews.”

Smith added, “The committee process has gone very smoothly. There’s good camaraderie among the committee members, and they’re excited about the next steps.”

Former WSCC president Chuck Dillon retired six months ago after serving the college for 16 years. Scott Ward, the vice president for administrative services, has been serving as interim president.