Montgomery College President Recommended To Lead Nevada State

SILVER SPRING, MD — A search committee has recommended Montgomery College President DeRionne Pollard to lead Nevada State College in Henderson, Nevada.

Pollard — who assumed leadership of Montgomery College in 2010 — is now awaiting approval from the Board of Regents for the Nevada System of Higher Education, said Montgomery College Board Chair Michael J. Knapp.

"It is with mixed emotion that I share this news, as Dr. Pollard's 11 years leading the college have driven the institution to accomplish a myriad of goals," Knapp said in a statement released Thursday. "Dr. Pollard's leadership capacities have not gone unnoticed by NSC, a public, four-year institution. Plans for an interim president of Montgomery College and the process for selecting a new president will be announced in the coming days."

Pollard received her doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Loyola University Chicago, according to her resume posted online. Several years later, in 2008, she became president of Las Positas College in Livermore, California.

As president of Montgomery College — a public institution that serves nearly 60,000 students a year — Pollard has been recognized for her push to forge public partnerships with community organizations and her commitment to student diversity.

"Dr. Pollard's leadership has produced some extraordinary changes in our shared notions of inclusion, access, and quality," Knapp said. "In many ways, her unique vision has fundamentally shaped the way we think about serving our community as fiscal stewards, business partners, and architects of student success. Her practicality combined with a tireless mission-drive has brought out the best in many of us, allowing us to contribute our own skills and leadership to the college's work."

Pollard was one of four finalists vying to become Nevada State's president. She was up against:

• Dr. Hubert Benitez — vice president of strategy and innovation at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri
• Dr. Susan Borrego — professor and former chancellor at the University of Michigan, Flint
• Dr. Shari McMahan — provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State University San Bernardino

Nevada State, located less than 25 miles southeast of Las Vegas, first opened in 2002 and has an enrollment of about 5,500 students, according to the school's website. Nearly three-quarters of the student population is Black, Hispanic, Asian, or multiracial.

"(Pollard) embodies many of the most highly respected qualities of leadership," Knapp said. "While she will be greatly missed, the Board is certain that this move will allow her to contribute in new ways to higher education and that Nevada State College will benefit from her vision."