MCC interviews two candidates

The Mesalands Community College board of trustees met for about two hours behind closed doors on Thursday to interview two candidates for president of the college.

The board took no action when open session resumed.

Board Chairman Richard Primrose said after the meeting he anticipates a president will be hired during the board’s next scheduled meeting on July 16.

Primrose declined to identify the two candidates interviewed Thursday, but he said he would reveal them during the board’s July 16 meeting.

Primrose said before the meeting he wanted to hire a president Thursday, but he was unsure whether such a move would violate state law.

He said New Mexico statute states a president can be hired within 21 to 30 days after the college has announced its finalists for the position.

Mesalands announced its five finalists on June 18 from a total of 32 applicants.

Allen Moss, appointed by the board as Mesalands’ temporary acting president in February 2023, is among the finalists.

The other finalists, listed in alphabetical order, are:

— Billy W. Adams, vice president of instruction at Panola College in Carthage, Texas;

— Sandra Kiddoo, president of Northland Community and Technical College in Minnesota;

— Lyvier L. Leffler, vice president for student success at Lone Star College-University Park in Houston;

— Stacy Pfluger, provost and interim president of Southeast Arkansas College.