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The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) has selected three finalists after an extensive nationwide search for the next President of Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC). The search committee, comprised of College, student, and community representatives, has conducted a thorough screening and semi-final interviews with applicants in order to identify those best suited to lead PVCC with long-term success.
Public forums with finalists will take place on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, from 2 to 5 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. Participants may also attend the public forums in person at Paradise Valley Community College:
Paradise Valley Community College - Main Campus
Center for the Performing Arts
18401 N. 32nd Street
Phoenix, AZ 85032
You can learn more about each candidate and our forum schedule by visiting the Paradise Valley Community College President Search webpage.
In alphabetical order, the finalists are:
Melissa R. Curtis, Ph.D.
Dr. Melissa Curtis has more than twenty-two years of higher education experience, spanning both academic and student affairs. She has most recently served as Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management at Austin Community College, leading enrollment strategies for the district’s eleven campuses and expanding the college's strategic enrollment culture. Dr. Curtis has held positions as Dean of Student Affairs at the Eastview Campus and Director of College Connection, an award-winning program that increased college enrollment from the region’s 26 school districts.
Dr. Curtis is a recognized coalition builder, nurturing partnerships within the educational ecosystem. Her service has included seats on the YMCA Austin Metropolitan Board, the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce DTC70 and Education Council, the E3 Alliance Blueprint Leadership Council, and the Austin College Attainment Network. Nationally, she has served on the CCSSE Students in Need in Community Colleges Advisory Board as well as the Higher Education Research and Development Institute (HERDI) South Advisory Board. Dr. Curtis is a published author and has presented nationally on Emergency Aid, Equity in Strategic Enrollment Management, and Student Affairs Change Management.
Tiffany E. Hunter, Ph.D.
Dr. Tiffany Hunter currently serves as Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs at Clark State College. She served as Dean of Education and Human Services at Florida State College at Jacksonville for seven years prior to joining Clark State in January 2019. She has worked in higher education for 21 years and in administrative roles, in both two- and four-year institutions for over 15 years. In her new role as Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, she has oversight of all of the academic programs, curriculum and budgetary oversight, leadership of faculty, engagement with business and industry, and accreditation compliance ensuring that through the Higher Learning Commission and discipline specific accreditors.
Dr. Hunter currently serves as a Commissioner for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs, on the board of United Way of Clark, Champaign & Madison Counties, a Mother member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., the National Council of Workforce Education (NCWE), the Council on Accreditation for Two-Year Colleges (CATYC) as well as other local committees.
Jean M. Runyon, Ph.D.
Dr. Jean Runyon is the campus vice president at Front Range Community College’s (FRCC) Larimer Campus. As the lead executive, Dr. Runyon is responsible for leadership of academic and student affairs, corporate and workforce solutions, administration, facilities, and campus operations. Prior to accepting the vice presidency at FRCC in July 2015, Runyon was the associate vice president, Learning Advancement and the Virtual Campus, at Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland. She provided leadership and vision for the creation, continuous planning, and evaluation of online education, learning outcomes assessment, prior learning assessment, institutional professional development, military and veteran initiatives, Weekend College and off-campus programs, Andrew G. Truxal Library, and the Sarbanes Center for Career and Civic Engagement.
Dr. Runyon is one of 40 leaders participating in the 2021-2022 class of Aspen’s Rising Presidents Fellowship, a highly selective leadership program preparing the next generation of community college presidents to transform institutions to achieve higher and more equitable levels of student success.