CCC interim president says she's brought college stability

Robin Jones believes her Clovis Community College interim presidency has brought stability to the college, something she says is needed there now.

The college’s board of trustees decided unanimously on March 6 to have Jones stay on as CCC’s interim president until a new president is hired.

“Yes, I am going to take the (interim) job,” Jones said in a Monday interview with The News. “We’ve all been in these roles for over 20 years. We’ve come up through the CCC system.”

Jones began her CCC career 26 years ago in the college’s nursing department.

“We are a family out here and we all recognize what all our strengths are,” Jones said.

Jones has been interim president since Aug. 8, when former President Charles Nwankwo was placed on administrative leave while allegations leading to declarations of “no confidence” in Nwankwo by three CCC employee groups were investigated.

Nwankwo resigned Feb. 6.

In addition to extending Jones’ stay as interim president, the board also approved retroactive pay for Jones in the amount of $24,346 to cover the difference between her pay level as executive vice president of academic affairs and the president’s salary.

As an executive vice president, Jones earned $141,345 a year, Kameron Barnett, the board’s attorney, said. The president’s salary, which Jones will earn going forward, is $185,000.

“I’ve been in the role now for 7 months going on 8,” Jones said. “I have a firm grasp of the role.”

Jones said as executive vice president of academic affairs she didn’t have an opportunity to get involved with getting to know legislators; now she does.

Board President Lora Harlan said the board will schedule a public study session to discuss the process for seeking and hiring the next president. A date for such a session has not yet been set.

Jones said she is interested in the position, but her application status will depend on “what is going on at that time,” she said.

“The presidency has to go through a search process,” Jones said. “It’s state law.”

“Will it be 18 months from now? Two years from now? It will depend on what’s going on then,” Jones said. “That’s a firm ‘maybe’ I guess.”

Jones said she wants what’s best for the college; what’s best for faculty, students and staff.

“If that means bringing in new blood, then I would support it,” she said.

As interim president Jones believes her role is about sustainability for the college.

“Constantly reevaluating what’s going on on campus, securing funding,” Jones said. “Seeing if we need new programs, community involvement, working on community support.”

Jones said a new program CCC is involved with is CHESS: Collaborative Higher Education Shared Services project.

“We joined with five other colleges in this,” Jones said. “To align student services and key business processes.”

The other state community colleges involved with CCC in CHESS are Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, Northern New Mexico College in

Española, Luna Community College in Las Vegas, San Juan Community College in Farmington and Santa Fe Community College.