The Nassau Community College board’s choice for president of the college has withdrawn from consideration, once again leaving the college’s decision up in the air.
A State University of New York spokeswoman said Friday that Nassau Community College officials needed to present the SUNY Board of Trustees with a new presidential selection.
SUNY spokeswoman Holly Liapis said details surrounding the candidate’s withdrawal would remain “confidential” as would the position of SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher and the SUNY board, which must approve any selection made by the Nassau Community College board.
“It’s one of those situations where it’s like any new hire,” Liapis said. “It’s a process and it’s very confidential.”
On March 3, Nassau Community College board President Jorge Gardyn announced that the college’s trustees had submitted their presidential selection to the SUNY board following an almost four-year search for a permanent president.
That choice, Gardyn said, was to remain anonymous until the college received Zimpher’s approval.
Liapis said the SUNY board was prepared to announce its decision at the March 23 board meeting.
On Jan. 19, the school announced on its website the four finalists for the post — Gena Glickman, president of Manchester Community College in Connecticutt; Tyjuan A. Lee, vice president of student services at Prince George’s Community College in Maryland; Stephen Schoonmaker, former president of College of the Ouachitas in Arkansas; and Kenneth Saunders, who now serves as executive vice president at Nassau Community College.
Nassau Community College sources told Newsday the college’s board had selected Saunders as its choice to head the school.
Saunders declined to comment on whether he was the selection or if he had withdrawn his name from the pool of candidates.
Nassau Community College has been seeking a permanent president since Donald Astrab left the position in July 2012.
Former Great Neck Superintendent of Schools Thomas Dolan has served as interim president since September.
Saunders, who was an administrator at Nassau Community College for more than 13 years, was acting president prior to Dolan’s appointment, until SUNY officials recommended a 60-day limit in June to his tenure as acting president.
Gardyn told Newsday the board would deliberate a new choice at its next meeting on April 12.
