NMC search committee: Former presidents can reapply

Northern Marianas College Board of Regents member Maria Malua T. Peter, center, meets with members of the NMC Presidential Search Committee that is chaired by Cynthia I. Deleon Guerrero, right, yesterday morning at the NMC BOR’s conference room. (Jon Perez)

The Northern Marianas College Presidential Search Committee is not limiting their hunt for the next chief executive officer of the college and even gave former applicants the chance to try their luck anew in securing the top post.

This was according to SC chairperson Cynthia I. Deleon Guerrero who will lead a 10-member panel that is tasked to painstakingly screen the applicants. They will also be making the recommendation to the Board of Regents, which will then choose who among the candidates will be NMC’s next president.

“We have no preference. All are welcome to apply as long as they are qualified applicants. Regardless of being previous applicants for the position,” said Deleon Guerrero in a brief talk with the media during a break on their meeting yesterday at the NMC Board of Regents’ conference room.

“There are already some applicants and the committee will review all of their credentials and working experience. The job vacancy announcement also came out two weeks ago,” she added.

Gemma Noelani Somol (NMC student), Amanda Diaz and Patty Coleman (NMC faculty), Daisie Camacho-Renguul (NMC staff), lawyer Michael Evangelista (NMC alumni), NMC-Cooperative Research Extension and Education Service program dean Dr. Tim Kock (NMC administration), CNMI State Board of Education chair Herman T. Guerrero, Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Velma Ann M. Palacios, and former senator Maria Frica Pangelinan are the other SC members.

Deleon Guerrero said they decided not to limit the SC members to the faculty, staff, and students of NMC but rather coming from various sectors to ensure the full participation of the community.

“The selection committee comes from different parts for the full participation of the community. Not only from the NMC faculty, staff, students, and management. This was not done before,” said Deleon Guerrero.

She added that the SC would follow the procedures and processes that are stated on the NMC Board of Regents’ amended resolution No. 2016-02. She also assured that the SC is prepared for all possible scenarios in the event the chosen candidate backs out.

Dr. Sharon Hart has already taken a leave of absence as NMC president early last month. Board of Regents chair Frank Rabauliman appointed NMC dean of Administration and Resource Development David J. Attao to serve in acting capacity.

Hart, who received a vote of no confidence twice while serving as president of the North Dakota State College of Science, was hired in 2011 after the first choice backed out. She replaced Dr. Carmen Fernandez, who was terminated as NMC president.