Westmoreland County Community College eyes search firm to fill vice president position vacant since 2022

Amid the search for a new president, Westmoreland County Community College soon could hire a search firm to help fill a vice president position that has been vacant for two years.

The board of trustees voted Wednesday to pay $39,000 for Massachusetts-based search firm Spelman Johnson to identify a vice president of administrative services.

The college will interview two candidates by the end of next week for the position, said Kimberly Bush, executive director of human resources. If neither candidate is successful, the college will draft a contract with Spelman Johnson.

“We’ve had a lot of interest in this position,” she said, “but not the right type of talent.”

The position has been unfilled since July 2022, spokeswoman Janet Corrinne- Harvey said. Responsibilities of the role were managed by former President Tuesday Stanley, who resigned in June. Interim President Kristy Bishop since has taken on the additional workload.

The college paid Higher Education Leadership Search $30,000 in 2022 to identify candidates for the vice president position, Corrinne-Harvey said. The search firm brought in three candidates, but no one was hired, she said.

Offering a nearly $132,000 salary, the vice president position requires a bachelor’s degree, seven to 10 years of experience in financial leadership and relevant nonprofit experience. The candidate is responsible for the college’s finances, purchasing, leasing, facilities, security, services and events.

Board member Doug Weimer unsuccessfully suggested the trustees table the vote to hire Spelman Johnson. He was the only board member to vote against the hiring.

“The board previously approved a search firm for this position in some amount, and now you’re asking us to approve a second search firm, a different one, in this amount,” he said.

Bush said the search firm will prove instrumental in filling the position.

“We have had this position out there for quite some time,” she said. “It is crucial that we take some steps toward filling this with a quality candidate.”

The board hired Anthony Underwood on Wednesday to serve as vice president for enrollment management services, offering a nearly $132,000 salary. He was selected from a pool of 40 candidates.

“Dr. Underwood was identified as the most qualified, the best fit for this position,” Bush said.

The move comes two months after Stanley resigned as president.

Stanley, 55, joined the college in 2014. She announced her resignation in October, citing a desire to explore other career opportunities.

Stanley will serve as a consultant through December at a salary of $36,000 with benefits.

Bishop, who previously served as vice president of academic affairs, will receive an additional $6,000 as interim president. Once a permanent president is selected, she will return to her vice president role.

In the meantime, Cynthia Sexton Proctor is serving for Bishop as interim vice president of academic affairs. She is also dean of the schools of business and mathematics, science and engineering.