Three finalists have been chosen for the college presidency. Dr. Glenn Coltharp, Dr. Bonny Copenhaver and Dr. Tiffany Evans were selected from a national search by the presidential search committee as the top candidates for the position. Photos and bios of each candidate can be found below:
Dr. Glenn Coltharp
Dr. Glenn Coltharp currently serves as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri. Also at the higher education level he has served as Dean of the School of Education, Associate Dean of the School of Education, Head of the Department of Teacher Education, and Professor of Teacher Education at Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Missouri.
Before coming to the higher education level, he served at the K-12 level as Superintendent of Schools, Assistant Superintendent, Middle School Principal, Elementary School Principal, and the Principal of the Missouri State School for Severely Handicapped. As a classroom teacher, Dr. Coltharp has served as a Kindergarten, Second Grade, and Fourth Grade Teacher.
Dr. Coltharp has received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, a Master of Science in Elementary School Administration, and a Specialist in Education in School Administration, all from Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas. He received his doctorate degree in School Administration from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas.
Dr. Coltharp is married to Dr. Hazel Coltharp, Professor in the Mathematics Department at Pittsburg State University. Together, they have two children, Dr. Jean Coltharp, an Assistant Professor in the Mathematics Department at Missouri Southern State University, and Benjamin Coltharp, a Senior in Math Education at Pittsburg State University.
Dr. Bonny Copenhaver
Dr. Bonny Copenhaver has dedicated her entire career in higher education to working in community colleges. She sees these institutions as the keys to access advanced training that for so many can seem unattainable. She started her career at Northeast State Community College located in Blountville, Tennessee as an instructor of English and Theatre. She moved from there to Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap, Virginia where she worked as the first Major Gifts and Planned Giving Coordinator for the College. In that position she organized a capital campaign that raised $4.1 million dollars and contributed to the creation of 20 new scholarships to help deserving students attend college. Returning to Tennessee and to academics once again, Bonny was the Dean of Humanities at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin. She served in that role for five years and balanced teaching with administrative duties, which included program assessment, curriculum development, and departmental advocacy. She worked at Motlow State Community College as Provost from 2010-2013. In that role she had oversight of all academic programs, and she created a new paramedic/EMT program, redesigned the developmental studies program, and improved the academic affair unit’s institutional effectiveness planning process. In 2010 she received the Woman of Achievement award from the Women in Higher Education in Tennessee. In 2013, Bonny became the Vice President, Academic Affairs/Campus Administrator for Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College. As the chief academic officer, Bonny advocates for the needs of the academic programs, oversaw the change of admission philosophy from entrance scores to multiple measures, supported the creation of new academic services dedicated to student success, and oversees construction at the Superior campus.
Bonny graduated from East Tennessee State University with her BS and MS in English and Ed. D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. Additionally, she holds a graduate certificate (18 graduate hours) in women’s studies from Western Kentucky University.
Dr. Tiffany Evans
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Tiffany Evans became the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer at Henderson Community College (HCC) in 2018. She comes to HCC from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, where she serves as Provost and Chief Academic Officer. Dr. Evans has also held leadership roles at South Piedmont Community College (NC), Salt Lake Community College (UT), Stephen F. Austin State University (TX), and Cuyahoga Community College (OH). She served as a faculty member these and other colleges and universities. Dr. Evans is an avid and successful grant writer and fundraiser, personally winning over $58,000,000+ in grant funds, and personally securing $22,000,000+ in private donations.
As her guiding personal mission, Dr. Evans strives to develop creative student-centered educational opportunities and environments aimed at helping students self-actualize and holistically develop into self-aware, globally cognizant, community-oriented, productive, engaged, and intelligent individuals. She also focuses on building relationships with business and industry to develop educational opportunities that lead to high wage and high demand careers. She is a passionate advocate for community development, emphasizing the beneficial outcomes resulting from partnerships between a community college and its varied community partners.
Dr. Evans earned her B.A. in Political Science from John Carroll University; her M.A. in Art History and History from Cleveland State University; her M.A. in Non-Profit Management from the University of Akron; her M.L.I.S. from Kent State University, and her Ph.D. in Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh.
