Former Johnson County Community College Interim President Larry Tyree takes another dive into turbulent waters.
For a college president who prides himself on being student-centered, Larry Tyree is becoming quite an expert on boards of trustees.
His latest posting is no exception.
Trustees of Monroe Community College in Rochester, N,Y. unanimously voted to name Tyree interim president at their monthly meeting June 30.
“Dr. Tyree brings to this college and this community extensive experience in community college leadership; having served three times as an interim president," said Richard Guon, chair of the MCC Board of Trustees.
Tyree previously served as interim president for Independence Community College (ICC) in Independence, Kan., Johnson County Community College (JCCC) in Overland Park, Kan., and Jefferson Community College (JCC) in Lexington, Ky.
"He knows how to help colleges find highly qualified, permanent presidents and move forward during times of transition,” Guon added. “He also brings an unbiased, external perspective that will restore confidence in the presidential search process.”
MCC Controversy
The campus slipped into controversy when its president, R. Thomas Flynn, announced his retirement after serving MCC for 30 years.
According to the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, one trustee resigned citing partisan politics had entered the search.
The newspaper also reported that after the trustee's resignation, the remaining trustees overrode the search committee's recommendations by placing two additional candidates on the short list for permanent president and then only voting on those two candidates. The controversy caused one of the committee's candidates to withdraw.
The situation escalated when staff and faculty voted "no confidence" in the board and called for all the trustees to step down.
MCC has 10 trustee positions. The County Legislature appoints five members. The governor appoints four members and students elect a designated student trustee.
“Monroe Community College is an institution I have greatly admired for the past 20 years,” Tyree said. “I have a passion for the vital work of faculty and staff as they facilitate student success and I believe strongly in the important role of community colleges to enrich the communities they serve. Those are values I see at MCC and I welcome this opportunity.”
