Published: May 22, 2007
Area native takes helm at SwVCC
By
CHARLES OWENS
Bluefield Daily
Telegraph
RICHLANDS, Va. — Dr. J. Mark Estepp has long admired one of Southwest Virginia’s best kept secrets.
“All of Southwest Virginia is a hidden jewel,” Estepp, the newly selected
president of Southwest
Virginia Community
College in Richlands, said. “This whole area is a
hidden gem. We are just happy to be here.”
For more than 20 years, Estepp traveled past SwVCC in Richlands while visiting
his family in the Matewan community in neighboring West Virginia. Estepp, who currently serves
as the dean of the college of fine and applied arts at Appalachian State
University in Boone, N.C., hopes to be on campus in Richlands as early as July
as the new college president.
Estepp will be the second president of SwVCC, Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community
Colleges, said. Estepp will succeed Dr. Charles King as the first president and
founder of SwVCC in Tazewell
County.
“You talk about a tough act to follow,” Estepp said of King. “He and I have
been on the phone several times. I’m looking forward to a great working
relationship with him as well as with the current interim president Dr.
Snyder.”
Estepp said the fact that King served as the founder and only president of
SwVCC for more than 40 years is a “true testament to his service.”
Estepp said his first few months on the job at SwVCC will involve listening.
“The most important thing for me to during the first few months is to listen to
people,” Estepp said. “I need to learn the lay of the land here, figure out the
culture and listen to people. The main thing for me and Trish to do is to go on
listening tours — listening to the faculty, staff and community to see what we
are doing right and doing well.”
Estepp has worked as the dean of the college of fine and applied arts at
Appalachian State University since 2003.
Dr. William Synder, the retired president of Wytheville Community College, will
continue to serve as interim president of SwVCC until Estepp arrives later this
summer.
“Mark is a highly capable professional with an impressive track record who is
in love with rural Southwest Virginia,” DuBois
said in a news release. “I’m confident he will do a great job.”
“After conducting a national search to replace our founding president, the
board at Southwest is delighted with the appointment of Dr. Estepp,” Frances
Minton, who chairs the college board, added. “He brings to the table all the
ingredients we were looking for in a new leader.”
Estepp served as interim dean of Appalachian State University in 2002 and 2003,
and chaired the college’s department of technology from 1991 to 2002. He joined
Appalachian State University as an assistant professor of industrial education
and technology in 1984.
Estepp has a doctorate in practical arts and vocational technical education
from the University of Missouri; a master’s degree in industrial arts education
from Murray State
University in Murray,
Ky.; and a bachelor’s degree from Berea College
in Kentucky.
The president search was launched in January following King’s retirement after
more than 40 years of service as the founding president of SwVCC.
|
