Presidential Search

Presidential Search Graphic

Established in 1929 with 86 students answering the inaugural roll call, Amarillo College is a vibrant community college that typically enrolls about 9,000 students at seven campuses in three Texas Panhandle counties and has recently garnered significant national acclaim.

On April 20, 2023, Amarillo College was named co-recipient of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation's signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America's 1,100-plus community colleges.  

Soon thereafter, AC President Russell Lowery-Hart was named Chancellor of the Austin Community College District, and the AC Board of Regents began the process of identifying the next President of Amarillo College.

The Amarillo College Board of Regents is seeking an energetic and proven leader to build on the tradition of excellence that positioned the College to capture the preeminent Aspen Prize. 

Regents announce two finalists in the Amarillo College presidential search

The Amarillo College Board of Regents on Wednesday, April 3 voted unanimously in the naming of two finalists for the position of president.

The finalists are Dr. Andrew Bowne, who served as president and CEO of Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kan., 2020-2024; and Dr. Laura Boyer, currently vice president for academic success at Northeast Lakeview College in San Antonio’s Alamo Community College District.

Both finalists will be invited to interview at AC and within the community, tentatively during the week of April 15.

Regents selected the finalists from more than a dozen candidates that were initially recommended to AC’s presidential search advisory committee by Gold Hill Associates, a community college executive search firm retained by the College. AC’s search advisory committee conducted video conferences with six of the applicants and presented its finalist recommendations to the Board.

Questions about the search can be submitted to regents@actx.edu.

Presidential Finalist Open Forums

The two individuals who have been selected as finalists to become the next Amarillo College president are scheduled to attend 75-minute open forums during the week of April 15-19 in Ordway Hall on AC’s Washington Street Campus.

Video recordings will be added as soon as they are available following the second forum, but not before the conclusion. 

  • Dr. Laura Boyer: Tuesday, April 16th - Watch the Recording
  • Dr. Andrew Bowne: Thursday, April 18th - 3:00 to 4:15 p.m.

Submit Feedback

Please use the following form to submit feedback for each of the Presidential candidates.

Submit Feedback

Dr. Andrew W. Bowne, Ed.D. 

Dr. Andrew Bowne

 

Dr. Laura Boyer, Ed.D. 

Dr. Linda Boyer

 

Search Advisory Committee Members

  • Walter Adams
  • Dolores Arambula
  • Jay Barrett
  • Lexa Craddock
  • Michele Fortunato
  • Robert "Bob" Gustin
  • Maria Juarez
  • Stella Maddox
  • Paul Matney
  • Vanessa Miles
  • Courtney Milleson
  • Johnny Mize
  • Alex O’Brien
  • Pam Ortega
  • Lori Petty
  • Paul Proffer - Chair
  • Chit Pyu
  • Joe Bill Sherrod
  • Rene’e Stovall
  • Katharyn Wiegand

Timeline

 

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6/5/2023

Austin Community College names Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart as one of three finalists.

 

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6/12/2023

Amarillo College holds special meeting to discuss the process of moving forward to find a new college president should the need arise.

 

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7/24/2023

Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart named the lone finalist for the next Chancellor of Austin Community College.

 

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7/25/2023

Amarillo College holds special meeting to plan for presidential search.

 

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7/25/2023

Board of Regents names Interim President Denese Skinner.

 

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8/14/2023

Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart formally resigns as President of Amarillo College to take new position at Austin Community College.

 

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8/15/2023

Board of Regents accepts Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart's resignation at special meeting.

 

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8/28/2023

Aspen College Excellence Program begins work with AC with calls to a variety of representatives and stakeholders.

 

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9/17/2023

Request for Proposals to select executive search firm published.

 

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9/20/2023

Board Chair appoints RFP review committee.

 

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9/21/2023

Board of Regents retreat to discuss desired characteristics of next president.

 

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9/30/2023

Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart's last day as President of Amarillo College.

 

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10/1/2023

Denese Skinner assumes role of Interim President; Aspen College Excellence Program provides results of its preliminary work.

 

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10/23/2023

Search firm proposals opened. Review search firm proposals and decide which firms to interview. 

 

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12/11/2023

Board of Regents selected Gold Hill Associates to serve as the executive search firm to assist with the search for a College President. Board Chair appoints search advisory committee to be chaired by Paul Proffer.

 

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1/29/2024

President's Position - Application Process posted.

 

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 3/8/2024

Closing date for applications to ensure full consideration.

 

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 3/11-12/2024

Search advisory committee receives a short list of applications from Gold Hill Associates.

 

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 3/21/2024

Gold Hill Associates meets with search advisory committee to narrow field to semi-finalists/finalists.

 

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 4/3/2024

Board of Regents meets to discuss the selection of two finalists for the position of college president.

 

 

 4/15-19/2024

Finalists interview on campus and within the community.

 

 

 4/22-30/2024

Board of Regents meets to choose sole finalist for president.

 

 

 TBA

Announcement of the new president by the Board of Regents.

 

 

 TBA

Start date set for new president.

Position Description & Application Process

View Position Description & Application Process

Questions about the search can be submitted to regents@actx.edu.

 

AC EVENTS