Attaining the first community college presidency

It would be unusual to read the current literature on community colleges and not find a reference to impending retirements of senior-level administrators, faculty, and staff, as well as what skills and characteristics are important for future leadership. There is limited research on attaining the first community college presidency. This study expands the limited research through the lenses of the practical experiences of sitting community colleges presidents who had less than five-years of experience in their roles. At the time of the study, there were only four individuals in the state of Texas who fit these characteristics. Through the use of qualitative inquiry, the study shares the experiences of these presidents of how they prepared for their presidential roles, their motivations for seeking a presidency, as well as their experiences in the search and hiring process.