SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College has narrowed the search for its next president to six finalists, out of the original 72 applications received from as far away as California.

The person selected as president will take over from President Matthew Garrett, who retires as of Sept. 1 after 30 years with the North Carolina Community College System, 21 of them at Central Carolina. He has served as president since 2004.

The finalists include one current community college president from South Carolina, four vice presidents from community colleges in North and South Carolina, and one provost/chief academic officer from a community college in Kentucky. Vice presidents from both Central Carolina and Sandhills community colleges are among the finalists. The group is diverse, including four women and two men, four whites and two blacks.

"I am very pleased with the quality of the finalists," said Bobby Powell, chairman of Central Carolina's Board of Trustees. "We look forward to meeting and interviewing them and I'm sure we will pick the strongest candidate to serve as the next president of Central Carolina Community College."

Each finalist will visit the college between June 3 and June 11 to be interviewed by the Board of Trustees; tour the college's facilities in Lee, Harnett, and Chatham counties; and take part in a meet-and-greet event for college personnel, students, and the community. All of the meet-and-greet sessions will take place 3 p.m.-4 p.m. in the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center, 1801 Nash St., Sanford.

The board will then select three to submit to the N.C. State Board of Community Colleges for approval at the state board's August meeting. The college's board of trustees anticipates that it will name one of those as the new president in August.

Dr. Susanne Hall Adams
Dr. Susanne Hall Adams has served as vice president of Student Services and Academic Support at Sandhills Community College, in Pinehurst, since 2006. Prior to her current position, she served Sandhills as vice president of Planning and Special Projects, 2004-2006; dean of Planning and Research, 2001-2003; director of Research and Developmental Education, 1995-2001; and professor of English and Reading, 1994-present.

Prior to coming to Sandhills, she served as the coordinator/instructor of Developmental Studies at Danville Community College in Danville, Va. Dr. Adams received a bachelor's degree in English Education and a master's degree in English and Reading from Virginia Polytechnic and State University in Blacksburg, Va. She earned a doctorate in Education Leadership from East Carolina University. Dr. Adams will visit Central Carolina C.C. on June 4.

Dr. Janice Hoots Gilliam
Dr. Janice Hoots Gilliam has served as vice president of Student Development Services at Haywood Community College, in Clyde, since 2000. Prior to her current position, she served Haywood as the Cosmetology Program coordinator/department head, 1987-2000.

She was the Cosmetology Department chairperson/instructor from 1981-1987 at Isothermal Community College, in Spindale, and is an adjunct faculty member at Western Carolina University, in Cullowhee. Dr. Gilliam received an AAS degree in Vocational Education from Isothermal Community College. She holds a bachelor's degree in Occupational Education and a master's degree in Industrial Education from Western Carolina University. She earned a doctorate in Adult and Community College Education from North Carolina State University. Dr. Gilliam will visit Central Carolina on June 3.

Dr. Trelawney Marchant
Dr. Trelawney (Bud) Marchant has served as vice president for Educational Affairs at Piedmont Technical College, in Greenwood, S.C., since 2004. Prior to that, he served as vice president of Educational Programs at South Piedmont Community College, in Polkton, N.C., 1999-2004, and dean of the Union Technical Education Center at South Piedmont, 1998-1999.

Dr. Marchant holds a bachelor's degree in History/Education from the University of South Carolina and a master's degree in Administration from Winthrop College in Rock Hill, S.C. He received his Educational Specialist degree from the Citadel in Charleston, S.C. and his doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Sarasota, in Sarasota, Fla. Dr. Marchant will visit Central Carolina on June 11.

Dr. Anne S. McNutt
Dr. Anne S. McNutt has served as president of the Technical College of the Lowcountry in Beaufort, S.C. since 1987. Prior to her current position, she served as dean of Instruction at Nashville State Technical Community College, in Nashville, Tenn., 1979-1987.

Dr. McNutt received a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education-English major and a master's degree in English from East Tennessee University, in Johnson City, Tenn. She earned a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville. Dr. McNutt will visit the campus on June 9.

Dr. John R. Slade Jr.
Dr. John R. Slade Jr. has served as vice president/chief academic officer at Central Carolina Community College since 2004. Prior to this, he served as dean of Arts and Sciences, 1999-2004, and dean of the Mazie S. Woodruff Center, 1998-1999, at Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston Salem.

Dr. Slade holds a bachelor's degree in English and Higher Education from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He received his master's degree in English and Education from North Carolina A&T State University, and his doctorate in Education and Curricular Leadership from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Dr. Slade will be interviewed and participate in a meet-and-greet on June 5.

Dr. Linda Thomas-Glover
Dr. Linda Thomas-Glover has served as provost/chief academic officer at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, in Elizabethtown, Ky., since 2004. Prior to her current position, she served as vice president of Instruction, 2002-2004, and vice president of Instruction-Personnel, 2001-2002, at Guilford Technical Community College, in Greensboro.

Dr. Thomas-Glover received a bachelor's degree in Behavior Science/Chemistry from South Carolina State College and a master's degree in Science/Chemistry from the State University of New York at Buffalo, N.Y. She earned a doctorate in Chemistry from Temple University in Philadelphia. Dr. Thomas-Glover will visit the campus on June 10.

In its 46-year history, Central Carolina Community College has had only four presidents: Dr. William A. Martin, 1961-69; Dr. Jeff "J.F." Hockaday, 1969-1983; Dr. Marvin R. Joyner, 1983-2004; and Dr. Matthew Garrett, 2004-present.