Robin Jones appointed CCC interim president

CLOVIS - Robin Jones, executive vice president of Academic Affairs at Clovis Community College, will serve as the college's interim president for three weeks, which began on Monday.

Jones was chosen on a 4-0 vote of CCC's board of trustees Monday morning at a special meeting.

Trustee Terry Martin was absent for Monday's virtual meeting.

Martin, who also did not vote on whether to place President Charles Nwankwo on paid leave on Aug. 3 despite attending the meeting, did not return phone calls on Monday and Tuesday seeking comment.

Jones' current salary is listed as $141,489 per year.

Board President Lora Harlan said that after three weeks, the board will schedule another special meeting to "address where we are" and learn the status of an ongoing investigation involving Nwankwo, who has been accused of misconduct.

Jones has been working with CCC for 25 years. She started as a nursing instructor, advanced to director of nursing, then to dean of CCC's Allied Health programs. In July of 2011, she advanced to her present position, she said.

She received a Ph.D in Education from New Mexico State University in 2005. She has nursing degrees from CCC, Eastern New Mexico University and West Texas A&M.

The investigation is being conducted by Cuddy and McCarthy, an Albuquerque law firm.

The board launched the investigation in May after CCC employee groups presented letters and resolutions of "no confidence" in Nwankwo's ability to lead the campus.

Allegations against Nwankwo in the employee group resolutions include that he "has shown to be an incompetent administrator and has demonstrated a remarkable degree of unprofessionalism in conduct and behaviors."

In his two years at CCC's helm, the letters to board members state, Nwankwo "has done much damage to the operation and climate of Clovis Community College,"adding that the college "cannot fulfill its mission with him at the helm."