PERRYSBURG — The pool of candidates for the new president of Owens Community College has been whittled to
three.
The Owens Community College Board of Trustees’ President Search Ad Hoc Committee has announced three
finalists in the national search for the next president.
The three candidates are scheduled for virtual campus visits this week, with open forums for the
community, faculty, staff and students.
The three finalists for consideration:
Brandon Roderick Tucker is associate vice president of Workforce & Community Development at
Washtenaw Community College, Michigan.
Tucker leads the college’s efforts to connect with industry and community to develop opportunities and
partnerships that support enrollment, apprenticeships, workforce development and alternative revenue
goals.
He previously served as the academic dean for the Advanced Technology & Public Services Careers
division. In this role, Tucker served as the academic and administrative leader for the division which
has nearly 2,000 students in both associate degree and certificate program areas, including automotive
services, auto body repair, advanced manufacturing, construction technology, welding and fabrication,
HVAC, criminal justice, early childhood education and the police academy.
He will be available during a virtual community forum Tuesday from 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Laura Treanor is provost at Vincennes University, Indiana. During her leadership, the institution was
notified of its eligibility for two Aspen Prize awards that are based on improvements in graduation
rates, student success and equitable student success. Under her leadership, transfer partnerships have
increased and year-over-year growth in dual credit partnerships have also increased.
She oversees two of the most successful work-based learning programs in Southwest Indiana: the Toyota
Advanced Manufacturing Technician Program and the Amazon Mechatronics Apprenticeship Program. The most
recent partnership being forged is in cooperation with two local school districts and a regional
development foundation, which is the launch of an Online Early College model designed to make college
more accessible to students.
She will be available for a virtual community forum Thursday from 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Dione Dorsey Somerville is executive vice president at Hawkeye Community College, Iowa. Among her
accomplishments, she leads the college’s coronavirus response, including helping provide leadership to
academic affairs during the six-month vacancy of the provost position.
Prior to Hawkeye, Somerville was vice president for student affairs at Bloomsburg University in
Pennsylvania. Somerville provided leadership to create the Center for Leadership and Engagement, Center
for Diversity and Inclusion, modernize Greek Life, expand intercollegiate athletics, facilitate
assessment, and complete fundraising efforts. Somerville provided leadership during the university
Master Plan process, the revitalization of university housing and the completion of Soltz Hall, a $61.4
million multi-function building inclusive of the mailroom, bookstore, integrative learning, two dining
venues and nearly 400 suite-style beds.
She will be available for a virtual community forum Friday from 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Additional informatio, including finalists’ bios and how to access the community forums, can be found by
visiting www.owens.edu/president-search/.