PRESS RELEASES

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) Places Interim President at Richard Bland College

(February 11, 2026, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Following a national search, Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education focused executive search firm, is pleased to announce the successful placement of Dr. Kenneth Cooper Alexander, securing the role as Interim President at Richard Bland College.

Kenneth Alexander, Ph.D., brings a distinguished record of leadership across higher education, public service, and workforce development, with deep experience driving institutions through complexity, transformation, and change. He has served as Mayor of the City of Norfolk since 2016 and last year was selected Vice Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships at the Virginia Community College System. Previously, Dr. Alexander served as Chancellor of a national network of career colleges overseeing 20 campuses nationwide. He received his Ph.D. in Leadership and Change from Antioch University Midwest and a Master’s degree in Diplomacy from Norwich University. As Interim President, Dr. Alexander will advance the 2028 strategic plan approved by the Board of Visitors at their January meeting. That plan aligns with the Virginia Plan for Higher Education, prioritizing the development of workforce programming and credentials that align with regional needs, such as pharmaceutical manufacturing, healthcare and aviation technologies. Dr. Alexander will succeed Debbie L. Sydow, Ph.D., who announced in the fall her plan to step down as president on June 30, 2026.

Founded in 1960 as a branch of the College of William & Mary, Richard Bland College (RBC) was named in honor of the “Father of the Revolution” and Virginia statesman Richard Bland. Over the decades, RBC has grown into Virginia’s only selective, public, residential two-year college, offering students a distinctive bridge between high school and a four-year degree. The College maintains guaranteed transfer agreements with more than 35 four-year colleges and universities, ensuring affordable and streamlined pathways to bachelor’s degree completion. With a mission to provide high-value education, foster student success, and serve as an engine of regional development, RBC combines the intimate learning environment of a small college with the resources and connections of the Commonwealth’s higher education system.

Affordable Excellence 

Academic Career & Executive Search, a higher education focused search firm, specializes in affordable excellence, providing perfectly matched candidates to institutions quickly and accurately. Their methodologies, based on frequent touchpoints, pinpoint ideal candidates with speed and meticulous care resulting in highly successful placements.

They offer flexible service/pricing levels for all positions, ensuring affordability.

Contact Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, at 860-740-2600 or Jennifer@ACESrch.com, or visit https://acesrch.com/.