Presidential search nears end by Tyler Short The Ranger Reporter

Out of 41 applications, only four candidates remain in consideration for the position of Amarillo College president.

The board of regents announced the four finalists who were selected on Nov. 22: Robert (Bob) Klabenes, Ed.D., president of Oklahoma State University at the Okmulgee campus; William Lindemann Jr., Ed.D., executive vice chancellor for Instructional Programs at San Jacinto College; Marc Nigliazzo, Ph.D., president at Temple College; and Paul P. Pai, Ed.D., provost for Decatur Campus in Georgia Perimeter College.

General forums for each candidate to meet regents, faculty and students began Monday.

Nigliazzo, the first of the four to meet the public on Monday afternoon, viewed his time on the campus Monday as an opportunity to determine his "fit" with the institution. "Where do you want this institution to go?" he asked. Nigliazzo views his role as the college president as one of guiding the institution forward.

Nigliazzo, who is currently president of Temple College, applied for the presidency after the position opened the second time. Because of the quality reputation of AC, he said he was surprised the position opened again in such a short time.

As a former president at Galveston College, Nigliazzo has experience teaching at Adams State College in Alamosa, CO, Odessa College, Boise State University in Idaho and Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Texas in Austin, his master's from Texas A&M University and his doctorate from the University of New Mexico.

Klabenes was in Amarillo Tuesday. He became aware of the position opening in the Chronicle of Higher Education and through the Amarillo web site. "I want to build on the goals that are already established here at AC, and continue to build upon academic excellence," he said. "Fiscal stability is also a big concern for me. I think looking into the future and finding what's going to benefit this institution academically and financially should turn out to be a good investment."

Klabenes, current president of Oklahoma State University-Okmulgee Campus, was also campus president at Southeast Community College in Milford, OK. He earned an Ed.D. and M.Ed. in Education at University of Nebraska and a B.S. in Industrial Arts at Wayne State College in Wayne, NE.

Pai will be on campus Monday in general forum at 1 p.m. in the Badger Den.
Lindemann will be on campus Wednesday, with the general forum scheduled for 1 p.m. in the Badger Den.

Dr. Bud Joyner has been serving as president since the resignation of Dr. Fred William. Joyner was president of AC from 1992 to 1999."My time at AC has been the most rewarding of my career," he said. "The faculty and staff here have been really good to me." Joyner anticipates remaining on campus until sometime in April as the candidate who is chosen must give his current college a three-month notice before leaving.