SUNY Board of Trustees Approves the Appointment of Randall J. VanWagoner as President of Mohawk Valley Community College

Albany -- The SUNY Board of Trustees today approved the appointment of Randall J. VanWagoner as President of Mohawk Valley Community College, effective July 2, 2007. The Board of Trustees at Mohawk Valley Community College adopted a resolution appointing Dr. VanWagoner as president on April 16.

“Mohawk Valley Community College educates approximately 5,300 students each year, including more than 100 students from other countries, and I am confident Dr. VanWagoner’s experience in public higher education will serve them well,” said SUNY Chancellor John R. Ryan. “I would also like to thank Dr. Michael Schafer for his sustained and superior leadership as president of the campus for 24 successful years.

“I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. VanWagoner following his recommendation by the search committee and I commend the Boards of Trustees at SUNY and Mohawk Valley Community College for recognizing his talents and placing their confidence in him with this appointment.”

“It is a pleasure to approve the appointment of Dr. VanWagoner and we congratulate him on becoming the president of Mohawk Valley Community College,” said State University of New York Board Chairman Thomas F. Egan.  “

“We also thank Mike Shafer for his more than two decades of tireless advocacy and dedicated leadership of  not only Mohawk Valley Community College, but also for all 30 State University of New York Community Colleges,” Chairman Egan added.  “Michael Shafer has earned our praise and the lasting respect of the greater State University community and we wish him the very best as he begins a new chapter in his life.”

Dr. VanWagoner said, "It's an honor and a privilege to be chosen and approved as the next president of Mohawk Valley Community College. I look forward to continuing the exceptional leadership the college has enjoyed under Dr. Michael Schafer, and to beginning a new chapter in the history of New York's first community college."

Since 1999, Dr. VanWagoner has served as Vice President for Learning & Academic Affairs at the Metropolitan Community College (MCC), in Omaha, Nebraska.  He served as Chief Academic Officer, provided leadership to an administration that served a diverse student population of 9,500, and managed an annual instructional budget of more than $30 million.  While at MCC, he led an effort for a reorganization of the Educational Services division and used collaborative processes to reorganize an administrative structure that allowed for growth in full-time-equivalent enrollment of 33 percent in the past seven years. 

From 1994 to 1999, Dr. VanWagoner held numerous positions at Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood, Colorado.  His positions included Director of Research and Planning, Registrar, Chief Student Affairs Officer, and adjunct faculty.  As Director of Research and Planning, Dr. VanWagoner coordinated the strategic planning process and subsequently was instrumental in designing the strategic planning process at MCC.

Dr. VanWagoner’s publications and presentations cover a range of community college issues and he currently serves as the President of the National Council of Instructional Officers – the largest affiliate council of the American Association of Community Colleges.       

Dr. VanWagoner holds a Doctorate in Philosophy/Higher Education Administration and a Masters of Arts/Community College Administration from the University of Michigan.  He received his Bachelor of Arts in Communications, minor in Business Management, from Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan.  He was a liberal arts transfer major from Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan.

Founded in 1946, Mohawk Valley Community College is a public, co-educational, two-year institution. Mohawk Valley Community College offers choice, opportunity, and hope by providing accessible and affordable higher education, training, and services that emphasize academic excellence, diversity and a global view for all students.

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating more than 417,500 students in 7,669 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses. 

-30-