RH Perry & Associates Seeking President for Skyline College

February 7, 2025 – RH Perry & Associates has been retained by Skyline College in San Bruno, CA, to lead in its search for a new president. Senior consultants Jessie Thompson and Charlene Newkirk are leading the assignment.

Reporting directly to the chancellor, the president is the chief executive officer of Skyline College and a district team member on the chancellor’s cabinet. The president provides visionary leadership for the college and is responsible for the delivery of educational and other services provided by the college and for the supervision of the senior administrative staff and educational programs and services of the college. This leader provides high-level direction regarding the overall operation of the college and delegates to the vice presidents, deans, directors, and other management staff the supervision of other administrative, teaching, and classified staff.

Those applying must have a master’s degree or above from an accredited college or university or the equivalent. The equivalent of three years of progressively responsible experience (equivalent to the level of a division dean or higher in an accredited college or university) is also required. RH Perry & Associates is looking for an educator who has a vision of academic excellence who is guided first by student and community needs in decision-making. Candidates should have a demonstrated, deep commitment to equity and enacting justice for others.

• Below are just a few of the knowledge, skills, & abilities the school is looking for in its next leader.
• An academic leader with successful college teaching and/ or student services experience or equivalent.
• An excellent communicator who welcomes ideas from all segments of the college community; provides constructive feedback, and keeps all informed through a variety of effective mechanisms.
• A reflective leader who is open to suggestions and critical feedback, and who can admit to mistakes.
• Knowledge of and or experience with the collective bargaining process, relevant labor laws and regulations, and the critical and historic role of labor unions in education; a demonstrated respect for workers’ rights to organize; and a commitment to the collaborative, inclusive resolution of conflicts.
• A future-oriented, systems thinker who has proven experience in setting institutional priorities, making good decisions, articulating the rationales that inform decisions, assessing the efficacy of decisions, garnering the support of others, and following through with initiatives that enhance the performance, image, and appeal of the college.
• Demonstrated success as a fiscally responsible leader who utilizes budget policies and procedures as well as student outcomes and related research to inform strategic planning, and who can work effectively with district office staff and sister college executives in a complex multi-college organization.

The intent is to have the new president in office by July 1, 2025.

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.

Academic Executive Search Specialists

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 First VP of People, Culture and Equity at Holyoke Community College

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.

Search Closing Soon

RH Perry & Associates is currently at the closing stages in its search for a new president for Hudson Valley Community College. Senior consultants Gena Glickman and Kevin Cavanagh are leading the assignment. The successful candidate will build upon the accomplishments of the college and lead the institution to greater heights as it continues to provide quality educational programs and services.

Founded in 1953 to serve veterans of WWII and the Korean War, Hudson Valley is now one of the largest and most comprehensive community colleges in the SUNY system. Over 10,000 students from around the Capital Region and the world advance their education and lives through 85 degree and certificate programs, high school pipeline programs at 34 schools, hundreds of non-credit, skills-based workforce training courses and personal enrichment classes. The college is also a leader in distance learning, offering more than 23 academic programs and hundreds of individual courses completely online.

Related: RH Perry & Associates Recruits CFO for California State University Stanislaus

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media