Three individuals have been selected for campus visits and interviews in BRTC’s search for a new Vice President for Student Affairs, according to information released this week by Julie Edington, HR Director. The three were selected during a process that began with a review of a pool of forty applicants.
The three candidates are Lyvier Leffler of Moravia, Iowa; Martha Nelson of Pewaukee, Wisconsin; and Kim Armstrong of Moline, Illinois. The top six candidates were chosen for Skype interviews, according to Edington. Of the six, two had previously accepted positions, leaving four for the Skype sessions.
Each of the three top applicants will spend part of two days touring both the Pocahontas and Paragould campuses and will meet with senior administrators, Board of Trustees, as well as faculty and staff. Each will also make a brief presentation and then attend a reception to which the public is invited, Edington said.
While the specific schedule is still being determined and will be announced within the next week, the dates of the visits are September 23-24 for Leffler, September 30-October 1 for Nelson, and October 7-8 for Armstrong.
The process of the search committee has been both deliberate and thorough,” said Dr. Wayne Hatcher, BRTC President, “and I am confident we will be taking a close look at three highly qualified individuals. We look forward to meeting and welcoming them to our campus.”
According to information submitted by the applicants, Dr. Leffler is currently Dean of Academic Services at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, and formerly held the post of Associate Dean of Academic and Student Services there. She also held the position of Department Chair of Housing and Counseling Services at IHCC, and previously was Director of Counseling Services at IHCC. Her career there began in 2003 as Director of Rural Health Ed Partnership.
She has a PhD in Ed Leadership and Policy Studies from Iowa State University, a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from University of Houston, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, minor in Sociology, from Iowa State.
Nelson is currently serving as Coordinator of the Access to Success Project at University of Wisconsin College, and is Diversity Trainer at Casper Consulting LLC. She previously served as Mount Mary University’s Chief Student Affairs Officer, worked as Implementation Manager for Recruitment Plus Comprehensive Enrollment Management System at University of Wisconsin Colleges System. Previously, she held the position of Assistant Campus Dean at UW, Washington County.
Her degrees include a Master of Science in Counselor Education and a Master of Arts in English Literature from Syracuse University, and a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Russell Sage College.
Dr. Armstrong is currently Assistant Dean of Student Support Services at Black Hawk College, where she previously served as Interim Dean of Student Support Services and Assistant Dean of Student Services and Perkins Grant Manager.
She earned her PhD in Physiological/Neuropsychology and Cognitive Child Development from Howard University. She also has a Master of Science degree in Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minor in Chemistry from Howard.
The three candidates are vying for the position previously held by Dr. Michael Sullens, who retired in July.