RH Perry & Associates Recruits President for Skyline College
May 12, 2025 – Following a national search, RH Perry & Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Nathan Carter as the new president of Skyline College in San Bruno, CA. Senior consultants Jessie Thompson and Charlene Newkirk led the assignment. He will begin in his new role July 1, leading the college that serves more than 15,000 students each year on its San Bruno campus. “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Carter to lead Skyline College,” said Melissa Moreno, chancellor. “He is a transformational leader and team builder who has demonstrated a deep commitment to underserved student communities. He leads with intellectual humility with a primary focus on innovative, equitable, and inclusive student experiences to engender success and completion. Skyline College is on track to reach new heights of excellence under Dr. Carter’s leadership and his uncompromised collaborative and collegial approach.”
Dr. Carter brings 20 years of professional experience in higher education, including faculty positions at CSU San Bernardino and Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). He currently serves as the chief institutional effectiveness and inclusion officer at NOVA, the second-largest community college in the nation.
“I am humbled to have been selected to serve as the next president of Skyline College,” said Dr. Carter. “I am excited to begin this journey working alongside students, staff, faculty, and the regional community to advance Skyline’s powerful mission. By working together, we will cultivate an inclusive and high-achieving environment that expands equitable access to education—empowering all students, particularly those from underserved local communities, to pursue greater social and economic opportunity.”
Part of the San Mateo County Community College District, Skyline College’s programs are designed to meet diverse educational and career goals. With more than 100 degree and certificate programs across fields like business, STEM, arts, social sciences, health sciences, and more, the college is recognized for its rigorous academic standards and strong transfer pathways.
Established in 1974, RH Perry & Associates offers strong credentials and experience in academic executive search, having completed well over 1,000 searches in its history. Serving both two-year and four-year institutions, the firm’s higher education practice consists of senior-level executives with a well-balanced mix of college and university presidential and senior administrative experience and executive search expertise. Headquartered in Ashville, NC, RH Perry’s consultants maintain offices in Washington, D.C., Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
Mr. Thompson, director of community college searches, has led, or participated in, a wide range of presidential and senior administrative higher education searches. His experience spans large and small, urban, suburban and rural institutions nationwide. Mr. Thompson has provided services to both single and multi-campus institutions. His experience in higher education includes a combination of more than 40 years in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Michigan of senior-level administration, community college trustee service, and college teaching experience.
Related: RH Perry & Associates Recruits 13th President for Briar Cliff University
Ms. Newkirk has served at the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) in Pittsburgh, PA, as a campus president since march 2009 and, in July 2019, assumed responsibility as the southeast regional president, overseeing Boyce and South Campuses and Braddock Hills and Washington County Centers. In June 2024, she retired from CCAC. Her experience of many years in progressively responsible roles as a college administrator and educator at large public research institutions as well as small public and private colleges, including the University of Pittsburgh, Florida State University, Arizona State University, the College of Southern Maryland, Oberlin College, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland, combined with her experiences as an executive at CCAC, has made her a well-respected and seasoned professional in higher-education administration.
SUNY Adirondack Search
RH Perry & Associates recently assisted in the recruitment of Anastasia L. Urtz as the eighth president to lead SUNY Adirondack. Senior consultants George Santiago and Joanne Bashford led the assignment. The State University of New York board of trustees recently voted for Ms. Urtz appointment. She will assume the presidency this summer following the retirement of current SUNY Adirondack president Kristine D. Duffy. “Selecting a new campus president is not just about leadership; it’s about vision, experience, and a deep commitment to student success,” the SUNY board of trustees said. “With over a decade of dedicated service at Onondaga Community College and a distinguished career in higher education, provost Urtz possesses the expertise, passion, and strategic insight necessary to maintain SUNY Adirondack’s momentum and we wish her absolute success as she embarks on this exciting new endeavor.”
“I am confident that Anastasia Urtz’s vision and dedication to student success, demonstrated through her experience as provost and senior vice president for academic and student affairs at Onondaga Community College, will solidify SUNY Adirondack’s position as a vital force in education, workforce development, and upward mobility in the Capital region and North Country,” said SUNY chancellor John King. “I would also like to express my utmost appreciation to president Duffy for her unwavering dedication to increasing opportunities for students at SUNY Adirondack. Under her leadership, SUNY Adirondack has seen an increase in graduation rates, diversity, and closing achievement gaps.”
Related: RH Perry & Associates Recruits First VP of People, Culture and Equity at Holyoke Community College
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
