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Three chosen as finalists to be MCCCD’s next Executive Vice Chancellor/Provost
The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) has selected three finalists after a nationwide search for the District’s next Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost (EVC/Provost). The search committee, comprised of College, student, and community representatives, has conducted a thorough screening and preliminary interviews with applicants in order to identify those best suited for long-term success in the role.
Public forums with finalists will take place on Monday, June 20, 2022, from 1:15 to 4:15 p.m. The forums are open to students, employees, and the general public. Each forum allows the audience to ask questions and provide feedback that goes to the Chancellor for further consideration as a part of a comprehensive and inclusive evaluation of each candidate. The links to access the live-streamed events will be published on the EVC/Provost Executive Search webpage and accessible from the Maricopa Community Colleges homepage. Participants may also attend the public forums in person at:
Conference Center
Rio Salado College
2323 W. 14th Street
Tempe, AZ 85281
In alphabetical order, the finalists are:
Jennifer I. Berne, Ph.D.
Dr. Jennifer Berne has worked in higher education for over 30 years as a professor, researcher, department chair, dean, vice president of academic affairs, and provost. Her extensive experience in community college leadership includes positions as Chief Academic Officer at a small, rural, and a large, multi-campus urban/suburban institution. Her professional focus encompasses strategic planning, program development and management, assessment, program, and institutional accreditation, recruitment and support of faculty, staff, and administrators, grant writing, shared governance, and collective bargaining. She continues to teach in higher education to stay connected to students and her academic discipline.
Dr. Berne completed her Ph.D. in teacher education at Michigan State University, earned a master’s degree in English literature and composition theory from Northeastern University in Boston, and holds a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature from the University of Michigan. She has authored or co-authored five books and contributed to several articles, presentations, and funded research grants on topics including faculty professional development, developmental education, literacy education, and assessment.
Shouan Pan, Ph.D.
Dr. Shouan Pan is an experienced community college executive with nearly 30 years of teaching and administrative experience in single- and multi-college community college districts. Since 2016, Dr. Pan has served as Chancellor of Seattle Colleges. Under his leadership, the three-college district completed a series of organizational integration initiatives to improve organizational efficiency and student outcomes. Working with district faculty, staff, governmental, business, and educational partners, the District has vastly expanded the Seattle Promise program and started a host of non-credit micro-pathway, associate, and bachelor’s degree programs. The Equity Can’t Wait Capital Campaign launched during the COVID-19 Pandemic by the newly consolidated Seattle Colleges Foundation has raised over $25 million to fund district-wide DEI initiatives and expand scholarships for low-income and under-served students.
Prior to his chancellorship, Dr. Pan served as president of Mesa Community College for over eight years. During his tenure, he led concerted efforts by college faculty and staff to improve the rate of student completion over the course of several years, which resulted in the Aspen Institute naming the College as one of the top 100 community colleges in the nation in 2015.
Dr. Pan earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education, a Master of Education in College Student Personnel, and a Bachelor of Arts in English.
Lester Edgardo Sandres Rápalo, Ed.D.
Dr. Lester Edgardo Sandres Rápalo has over 20 years of experience bringing together multiple stakeholders for a common goal to provide and make accessible quality education to all members of the community. As a college administrator, Dr. Rápalo has gained experience in, inter alia, student affairs, academic affairs, enrollment management, strategic and change management, policy formulation, fiscal planning and resource allocation, fundraising, business partnerships and coalition building, program development, study abroad, media and technology competency, faculty and student conflict resolution, and teaching and internationalization of curriculum. In addition, Dr. Rápalo has demonstrated a strong commitment to celebrating diversity and fostering an inclusive environment conducive to faculty, student, and staff success
Dr. Rápalo is currently the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Bronx Community College, City University of New York (CUNY). In his current role, Dr. Rápalo is responsible for the total College budget, approximately $140 million, and supervises five deans, 20 academic departments, 1,843 faculty, and 443 adjuncts. Dr. Rápalo oversees and collaborates with other programs related to the success of students and the college. He also serves as the Co-Chair of the Recognizing and Rewarding Excellence in Teaching Task Force Committee. He is a member of the CUNY Academic Council, the Committee on Academic Policy (CAP), and the Reimagining Strategic Finance Committee.