For Immediate Release:
December 4, 2017
Primary Media Contact:
Sally Voth
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
Phone: 540-868-7134
Students, faculty, staff, community organizations and the general public are invited to attend a series of forums to learn more about the four finalists in the running to be Laurel Ridge’s next president.
Dr. Cheryl Thompson-Stacy is retiring Feb. 1 after nine years at the helm of Laurel Ridge.
The State Board for Community Colleges has certified four finalists from among the 102 nationwide applicants. They are Laurel Ridge Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Kimberly P. Blosser;
Kimberly Blosser
Dr. Annesa Cheek, vice president for school and community partnerships at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio; Dr. Julie Leidig, campus provost for the Loudoun Campus of Northern Virginia Community College; and Dr. J. Michael Thomson, college vice president and Eastern Campus president of Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio.
“The Laurel Ridge Community College presidency is appealing to an impressive group of community college leaders from around the country,” said Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges. “The focus our colleges place on student success, our innovative approaches to providing short-term workforce training, and our stability make us attractive to high-
Annesa Cheek
performing education leaders seeking their next career step.”
Each candidate will individually attend two forums – one on the Middletown Campus, the other on the Warrenton Campus. During the forum, the candidate will introduce himself/herself, provide their professional background and goals, give a 10-minute presentation on a specific topic and take part in a 40-minute question-and-answer session.
Dr. Thomson’s first forum will be 2 p.m. Dec. 6 on the Middletown Campus, with the next at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 7 on the Warrenton Campus. The Middletown forums will be in the Carl and Emily Thompson Conference Center in the Corron Community Development Center, and the Warrenton ones in The Barn.
Julie Leidig
Dr. Cheek will have a forum at 2 p.m. Dec. 11 on the Middletown Campus, and a second one at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 12 on the Warrenton Campus.
Dr. Blosser’s forums are at 2 p.m. Dec. 12 on the Middletown Campus, and 10:30 a.m. Dec. 13 on the Warrenton Campus.
Dr. Leidig will be the subject of the final two: 2 p.m. Dec. 13 in Middletown, and 10:30 a.m. Dec. 14 in Warrenton.
Those attending the forums will receive the link to an online survey where they can provide feedback on how well they think the finalist would do as Laurel Ridge’s next president. The
J. Michael Thomson
Laurel Ridge College Board will receive the survey results before making a final recommendation to Virginia’s Community Colleges Chancellor Glenn DuBois.
Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With four locations — Middletown, Warrenton, Luray-Page County and most recently, Vint Hill— the college serves eight localities in the Shenandoah Valley and northern Piedmont regions. The localities include the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester. Laurel Ridge offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines.
Laurel Ridge also serves the business community by offering workforce preparation programs for employees and employers. Laurel Ridge serves more than 9,000 unduplicated credit students and more than 11,000 individuals in professional development and business and industry courses annually.
About Virginia’s Community Colleges: Since 1966, Virginia’s Community Colleges have given everyone the opportunity to learn and develop the right skills so lives and communities are strengthened. By making higher education and workforce training available in every part of Virginia, we elevate all of Virginia. Together, Virginia’s Community Colleges serve more than 252,000 students each year. For more information, please visit www.vccs.edu.
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Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With three locations — Middletown, Warrenton, and Luray-Page County — the College serves eight localities in the Shenandoah Valley and northern Piedmont regions. The localities are the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester. Laurel Ridge offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines, in addition to providing access to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs offered on site by a four-year institution. Laurel Ridge also serves the business community by offering workforce preparation programs for employees and employers. Laurel Ridge serves more than 9,000 unduplicated credit students and more than 11,000 individuals in professional development and business and industry courses annually.
Laurel Ridge Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Laurel Ridge Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Laurel Ridge Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities. Laurel Ridge shall promote and maintain equal employment and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupational qualification), status as a veteran, national origin, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment. Inquiries may be directed to the Associate Vice President, Human Resources, [email protected], 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645, 540-868-7226.
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.
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