New CCRI president could be chosen by end of year

 A SEARCH IS under way to find a replacement for Community College of Rhode Island President Ray Di Pasquale.  / PBN FILE PHOTO
A SEARCH IS under way to find a replacement for Community College of Rhode Island President Ray Di Pasquale. / PBN FILE PHOTO

WARWICK – With a decision possible by the end of the year, the Community College of Rhode Island will soon have a new president that exemplifies leadership and the ability to “make forward progress.”
That’s the assessment of William Foulkes, chairman of the presidential search committee and chairman of the Council on Post-Secondary Education.
There are three finalists for the position who stand out in three areas: leadership, the ability to inspire and the ability to make forward progress, Foulkes said.
“We think CCRI deserves the best possible leader,” he said, “someone who knows how to work with a group of accomplished professionals, create a shared vision and continually help them be the best they can be. I’d say the candidates share all those qualities.”
Foulkes, also an adjunct faculty member of the Rhode Island School of Design, said Friday that the council has committed to keeping the identity of three finalists chosen from a field of 41 candidates confidential, including which states they’re from.
“We think confidentiality is crucial to assemble the strongest pool of candidates and no one wants to have their employer read in the paper they’re looking for a new job,” he said. “We wanted to assure applicants they could be comfortable with the search process.”
Next steps for the finalists include interviews in executive session with the full council and continued interaction with the CCRI community, Foulkes said.
While making a choice by the end of the year is “ideal,” he added, the hiring process will continue “for as long as it takes to make sure we’re comfortable with the decision.”
This is the first presidential search for Jim Purcell, the commissioner of Post-Secondary Education, said Robin McGill, a spokeswoman, via email. Confidentiality was approved by his office in discussion with the full council and general counsel, she said.
CCRI President Ray Di Pasquale is not seeking the renewal of his contract; he has been president since 2006. He will continue to serve as president until a replacement is found.

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