Board Votes Unanimous to Bring Back Johnson, Former Metro President

By Bronson Peshlakai
Metro Campus editor-in-chief

At a special Cuyahoga Community College board of trustees meeting May 14, the board voted unanimously to offer the Tri-C presidency to Alex Johnson.

Johnson beat Lars Hafner after the two finalists addressed college stakeholders at a presidential candidates forum May 10. Three days later, the Tri-C board announced a special board meeting to take place the following day.

The Voice will have an interview with the new president-elect later today.

Johnson will be leaving his position as president of the Community College of Allegheny College, located in and around the Pittsburgh area. The college has four campuses, five college, and about 60,000 credit- and noncredit-seeking students.

When Tri-C announced its two finalists May 6, it wasn’t known to the CCAC community that Johnson was seeking other opportunities.

“I wanted to inform you in advance of news that is expected to appear soon in the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper. I have been named a finalist for the presidency of Cuyahoga Community College,” he said in an e-mail to the CCAC community. “With my children and grandchildren all living in Cleveland, I felt that I could not let the opportunity pass to talk with Cuyahoga officials about the position.”

Check back often as the Voice provides continuing coverage on Tri-C’s next president.

• Tags: alex johnson, board of trustees, breaking news, bronson peshlakai, cuyahoga community college, david whitehead, jerry kelsheimer, lars hafner, presidential search, Tri-C, tri-c new president