Greiner named as new HCTC president

Versailles, KY (November 18, 2010) Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) President Michael B. McCall has selected Dr. Stephen Greiner as president of Hazard Community and Technical College (HCTC). The HCTC Board of Directors recommended Greiner for the position after meeting with the candidates on Monday.

Dr. Greiner s extensive experience and proven record of success as president of two community colleges in two states will provide this college and community with the strong leadership needed to fulfill its mission of providing education and training to improve regional economic growth and increase opportunities for residents, Dr. McCall said.

Greiner, who currently serves as president of Brunswick Community College in Supply, North Carolina, was one of three finalists resulting from a national search. The previous HCTC president was Dr. Allen Goben, who left the position in June to become president of Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois.

The Board has strongly recommended Dr. Greiner as the next president because the college will greatly benefit from his background in higher education. Dr. Greiner is what HCTC needs to progress to the next level and improve business opportunities and promote economic growth within the region, said Greg Wells, chair of the Hazard Community and Technical College Board of Directors.

Greiner has been president of Brunswick Community College since 2005. During his tenure, the college developed a Center for Economic and Workforce Development in conjunction with Brunswick County Economic Development Commission. The college also completed a successful Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) reaffirmation of accreditation.

Community colleges serve a crucial role in supporting the economic development of the region they serve. I look forward to helping to structure HCTC to respond even more directly to the needs of local businesses, creating a strong economic backbone to provide education and jobs to citizens of this area, Greiner said.

Dr. McCall said, Both HCTC and the Hazard community will benefit from the arrival of Dr. Greiner. He is an excellent choice to assist the area in economic development and he will bring exciting new ideas to the KCTCS system.

Greiner served as president of the Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Virginia from 2001 to 2005. Previously, he was vice president for academic affairs for the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana from 1995 to 2001.

HCTC has 4,714 students on six campuses in the southeastern region of the state, with 89 percent of students receiving financial aid. Key programs include Radiography, Nursing, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education. It is one of 16 KCTCS colleges on 68 campuses throughout the state of Kentucky.