Presidential Search
Earlier this year, Dr. John B. Cook announced he would step down next summer, concluding ten years as STCC president. While presidential transitions can sometimes be unexpected and disruptive, we are fortunate that this announcement has afforded the Board ample time to convene a search committee, engage a search firm, and proceed with a thoughtful and comprehensive process that will conclude with the announcement of a new President.
Dr. Cook has led STCC through a number of challenges as well as extraordinary achievements. Among those were successfully navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, significant infrastructure improvements, including the establishment of the Ira H. Rubenzahl Student Learning Commons and the launch of the Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, expanding academic offerings and seeing enrollments on the rise again. This search aims to identify someone who can build on those successes and continue putting STCC on the forefront as an institution and as a community resource.
Message from the Chairs of the Board of Trustees & the Presidential Search Committee
Dear STCC Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, and Friends:
Appointing a leader of an important and historic institution such as Springfield Technical Community College is something that we, along with our fellow Trustees, take on with the urgency and import the moment requires. We have established an aggressive and thoughtful timeline that is designed to allow for a complex process to unfold, while still reaching our goal of appointing/electing a new President by the end of the 2026 Spring Semester. We are committed to ensuring that the presidential search process is transparent, inclusive, and comprehensive.
We will be seeking a new President who reflects the values and aspirations of our community and is not only equipped to navigate through present challenges and opportunities, but, more importantly, has the vision, leadership capacity, and skills to lead our college into the future. Thus, your voice is an essential part of this search. Throughout the process, there will be opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and community members to share your perspectives; this input will help shape the qualities and experiences we seek in our next President.
We envision three distinct ways we can capture your input - through the Presidential Search Committee, through campus conversations to build a position profile, and near the end of the process, when finalists come to the campus for in-person interviews.
We will share updates on our progress through this website. You may also connect with the Presidential Search Committee via email at presidentialsearch@stcc.edu if you have questions, concerns, or comments about the search process.
Whatever your history or relationship with STCC, this search is being carried out on your behalf and, together, we will ensure a smooth transition and a strong future.
Sincerely,
Michael R. Knapik,
Chair, Board of Trustees
Vice President, Government & Community Relations
Baystate Health
Dr. William A. Dávila,
Chair, Presidential Search Committee
Vice President, Diversion, Shelter, & Housing
Center for Human Development
A detailed search profile is to be announced.
The Presidential Search Committee will play a crucial role in screening, evaluating, and recommending qualified candidates for the presidency. Our goal is to ensure that the search process is comprehensive and exhaustive with the utmost transparency and inclusiveness. This approach will help us identify a leader who embodies the vision and leadership qualities to move the college forward with excellence and innovation, building on the successes the institution has achieved under current leadership.
In establishing a search committee, the Executive Committee of the Board, with the delegated authority of the full Board of Trustees, will seek nominations that are representative of the students, faculty, staff, and academic offerings of the institution. This includes current students, alumni, faculty and staff, leadership, governance, and community partners. We also hope to have a committee that reflects the rich and diverse makeup of the college and the community we are a part of.
Committee Members
William A. Dávila, Ed.D., MSW, LICSW
Chairperson, Presidential Search Committee
Chairperson, Internal & External Affairs Committee
Secretary of the Board of Trustees
Vice President of Diversion, Shelter, & Housing
Center for Human Development
Full Committee List Coming Soon
We are pleased to share that Springfield Technical Community College has contracted with Pauly Group, Inc., a national search firm that focuses on community college senior administrative searches, to facilitate the presidential search process.
The Board of Trustees values your input and invites you to participate in open forums to express your thoughts as to the characteristics needed in the next President. Angela Provart, President of Pauly Group, will be hosting in-person and virtual forums to seek your input.
The dates/times of the forums for different stakeholder groups are as follows:
In-Person/On-Campus Forums
| Constituency Group | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Unit Professionals | December 8, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. | B16/235 Cabinet Conference Room |
| Students | December 8, 2025 | 12:00 noon | B19/114 Student Activity Conference Room |
| Students | December 8, 2025 | 12:45 p.m. | B19/114 Student Activity Conference Room |
| Full-time Faculty | December 8, 2025 | 2:30 p.m. | B16/235 Cabinet Conference Room |
| Adjunct Faculty (DCE) | December 9, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. | B16/235 Cabinet Conference Room |
| Leadership (Deans, etc.) | December 9, 2025 | 11:00 a.m. | B16/235 Cabinet Conference Room |
| Full-time Faculty | December 9, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. | B16/153 |
| AFSCME & Support Staff | December 9, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. | B16/153 |
| Cabinet | December 10, 2025 | 9:30 a.m. | B16/235 Cabinet Conference Room |
| Full-time Faculty | December 10, 2025 | 12:15 p.m. | B16/153 |
| Professional Staff (MCCC) | December 10, 2025 | 1:30 p.m. | B16/153 |
| AFSCME & Support Staff | December 10, 2025 | 2:30 p.m. | B16/153 |
Virtual Forums
| Constituency Group | Date | Time | Registration Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students | December 12, 2025 | 1:30 p.m. | |
| Full-time Faculty | December 12, 2025 | 2:30 p.m. | |
| Adjunct Faculty (DCE) | December 12, 2025 | 3:30 p.m. | |
| Non-Unit Professionals | December 15, 2025 | 9:30 a.m. | |
| Professional Staff (MCCC) | December 15, 2025 | 10:30 a.m. | |
| AFSCME & Support Staff | December 15, 2025 | 2:30 p.m. |
We recognize that this is a busy time in the Semester, and that not every forum is able to fit within the “College Hour.” If you are unable to attend a forum, you are invited to submit input via these links:
Please submit your responses by Noon on January 16, 2026. The survey will be deactivated at that point.
Comments from the forums and the survey will be used to develop the position profile.
Timeline
Additionally, it is expected that the presidential search will have the following tentative timeline:
- December 2025 and January 2026: Angela Provart, President of Pauly Group, will be meeting in-person and virtually with forums to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing Springfield Technical Community College and the characteristics needed in the next President;
- December 2025 and January 2026: The Board of Trustees will formalize the Presidential Search Committee;
- Late-January: A position profile will be developed, and will draw from forum feedback;
- Early February: Recruiting for applicants will begin;
- Early February: Orientation for Presidential Search Committee;
- Early March: Presidential Search Committee will identify semi-final candidates;
- Mid-March: Presidential Search Committee will interview semi-final candidates;
- Late-March and Early-April: Final candidates will be invited to campus;
- Once identified, these dates and candidate information will be
- Mid-April: Board of Trustees recommends next president to Board of Higher Education;
- July 2026: Anticipated start date of next STCC
If you have any questions, please contact:
Nanette Flores, Executive Assistant to the President & Liaison to the STCC Board of Trustees presidentialsearch@stcc.edu,
Dr. William Dávila
STCC Board of Trustees Secretary and Presidential Search Committee Chair
- 11/25/25: Call for Search Committee Members (Letter from Board Chair and Nomination Form)
Materials
Meeting details will be posted here.
Contact
If you have questions about Springfield Technical Community College’s presidential search, please contact PresidentialSearch@stcc.edu.