Associate Vice President for Health Sciences at Yavapai Community College

Dr. Marylou Mercado

Dr. Marylou Mercado, Associate Vice President for Health Sciences at Yavapai Community College, was selected by the 2024 Arizona Women in Higher Education organization as its 2024 Woman of the year.   Dr. Marylou Mercado is a Hispanic first-generation community college graduate and recently completed a Doctor of Education in 2018.

In its announcement, AWHE said the following about Dr. Mercado:

Throughout Dr. Mercado’s journey as a non-traditional student, she has had women in the roles of professors and administrative assistants walk alongside and stand with her through every challenge, offering encouragement so that she could complete her educational goals for quality of life. After spending 28 years in the community college environment, Dr. Mercado believes that education is the empowerment and equalizer of overcoming societal inequalities. Helping students achieve their educational goals and fostering leadership qualities and abilities in women are paramount to her role and responsibilities in higher education. She is passionate about seeing women become all they desire to be by investing time with them, hearing their concerns, understanding their visions and goals, and providing resources so that they may achieve all they are meant to achieve in fulfilling their destiny. For Dr. Mercado, there is no greater joy.

Congratulations to Dr. Mercado!

Vice President Jenkins named chair of selection committee

Chair, Rodney Jenkins

Earlier this week, Dr. Lisa Rhine, President of Yavapai Community College, announced the commencement of the search for candidates to fill the role of Provost. In her communication with the faculty, Dr. Rhine revealed that the College has partnered with Cizek Associates, based in Phoenix, to assist in this process. Additionally, she designated Rodney Jenkins, Vice President of Community Relations & Student Development, as the chairperson of the selection committee.

Comprising of three faculty members, three staff representatives, and three administrators, the selection committee will spearhead this crucial process. Following their evaluation, the committee typically provides a list of three or four candidates to choose from.

Dr. Rhine indicated in her communication that the College will institute a mechanism for soliciting input on the candidates from the College once they are announced. It may be that input from the community will be sought at that point, a process the College has traditionally followed.

Provost has team of 13 and oversees Strategic Initiatives, Academics and Instruction, Instructional Support, Lifelong Learning, and the Performing Arts Center – Reports directly to the College president

Yavapai Community College has launched its search for its newly created position of Provost to replace former Vice President Dr. Diane Ryan.  Dr. Ryan resigned unexpectedly June 29 from the position of Vice President of Academic Affairs. 

According to the College, the Provost  will serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and direct its academic programs.  The Provost will also oversee Strategic Initiatives, Academics and Instruction, Instructional Support, Lifelong Learning, and the Performing Arts Center.  The Provost will be accountable for ensuring accreditations, curriculum development, assessment processes, transfer articulation, general education, community education, and dual credit programming.

A portion of the position, as listed by the Community College, appears below. Click here if you prefer to review the entire position description as listed.  

POSITION SUMMARY

Location: Prescott, AZ | Job Type: Full Time | Job Number: 2023-00452 | Department: President’s Office

Opening Date: 07/27/2023

The Provost serves as part of the Executive Leadership Team and directs the academic programs of the institution in matters pertaining to student success and support in conjunction with the Chief Workforce Innovation Officer (CWIO).

Reporting directly to the President, the Provost leads five direct reports and a team of thirteen.

The position oversees Strategic Initiatives, Academics and Instruction, Instructional Support, Lifelong Learning, and the Performing Arts Center and sustains excellence in all aspects of educational offerings. The Provost provides dynamic leadership and administrative oversight to the college academic departments and academic support services with the members of the Executive Leadership Team, planning, policy and budget development, and management for a comprehensive academic affairs program to meet the needs of a diverse, growing student body. Overall responsibilities include academic planning, bringing vision and strategic leadership to a broad range of key initiatives including enrollment management, online learning, utilization of open educational resources and development of an integrated learning core that connects academic and student service operations and initiatives to improve student access, retention, progression and completion.

The Provost will be accountable for ensuring accreditations, curriculum development, assessment processes, transfer articulation, general education, community education, and dual credit programming. In this capacity, they also provide oversight for Academic Divisions such as Arts and Humanities; Professional Programs and Visual and Performing Arts; Math, Science, and Computer Technology and Instructional Support. In addition, the Provost will represent the College on state and local educational organizations, Boards and committees as assigned.

Minimum Expectations & Requirements

• • • Earned Master’s degree from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution
    • Three (3) or more years’ experience at the Vice President level or equivalent in academic affairs in higher education
    • Five (5) or more years of progressive responsibility for instructional, administrative leadership experience in a higher education institution, including the supervision, evaluation, and mentoring of Staff and Faculty
    • Track record in effective strategic leadership, demonstrated by tangible and measurable outcomes • Budget management experience, including resource allocation, strategic planning and implementation
    • Experience in accreditation, curriculum development and delivery formats, assessment, and instructional program evaluation

Preferred Skills & Abilities

Earned Doctorate degree from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution

Proven ability to thrive in a progressive, forward-thinking, high-energy and highly collaborative work environment

Teaching experience, preferably at a community college

Experience working with/for Governing Boards

Proven excellent communication skills, interpersonal skills, and a demonstrated commitment to student success

Visionary, servant leader with a history of collaborative relationships and inclusive leadership and management style

Experience in program development, strategic planning and ensuring accountability among individuals or teams

Committed student-centered leader who exemplifies sound judgment, creativity, openness, flexibility, integrity, introspection, resourcefulness, and humility

Data-informed decision-maker with a high degree of emotional intelligence

Demonstrates a strong awareness of current pedagogical trends, technological advancements, and potential future opportunities.

Proven history of successfully guiding, coaching, and advancing staff to higher levels of performance and achievement.

New Chief Resource Officer, new head of Workforce Division, and new Provost yet to be selected will join  leadership team

Yavapai Community College is set to welcome three new executives to its leadership team as the fall 2023 semester commences. The additions include Dr. Janet Nix, who assumed the role of Chief Resource Officer in November 2022, and Dr. Kimberly Moore, who will spearhead the Division of Workforce and Innovation. Additionally, a third individual will join the team as Provost, succeeding Dr. Diane Jones.

Recall that Emily Weinacker, the former Chief Resources Officer, retired in September 2022. As per her updated LinkedIn page, she has transitioned into a new role outside the College as a “Spiritual Director in Training.” Taking her place is Dr. Janet Nix, whose appointment was officially announced on November 8, 2022. The College has added her to its leadership team.

Yavapai Community College announced in a June 13 press release that it is creating a new Division of Workforce and Innovation.  Dr. Moore officially joined Yavapai on July 10, 2023 to lead that Division. Dr. Moore is currently the Vice President for Workforce Innovation at Tallahassee Community College in Tallahassee, Florida.  Dr. Moore has also been added to the leadership team.

In a surprising turn of events, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Diane Ryan, resigned from Yavapai Community College for unknown reasons. Her resignation was confirmed in a press release issued by the College in July 2023. Despite her relatively short tenure, having joined the institution on September 3, 2019, Dr. Ryan leaves behind an exemplary record of remarkable achievements.  Following her resignation, the College announced that it would seek a Provost to replace her. It is assumed the new provost will take the seat of Dr. Ryan on the leadership team. 

Leadership Team in fall 2022

Anticipated new leadership Team in fall 2023

Finally issued press release on June 29 knowing Blog had asked for accurate information in re her leaving on June 27 and 28 – but does not even have courtesy to send Blog the release

It is puzzling, isn’t it.  Why did Yavapai Community College withhold information from the Blog when it contacted it on June 27 and 28 asking for information confirming the status of Dr. Diane Ryan?  Was there some reason for the  delay?  For trying to hide the resignation?  Umm?

Then, on June 29 the College finally issued a press release. However, it did not have the courtesy to send  a copy to the Blog despite knowing the Blog had specifically asked for information.  What reason or reasons are behind this kind of behavior?  No one knows.

Here are the two emails sent by the Blog to the College asking for information that were not answered:

According to June 29 press release, Dr. Ryan’s resignation  “was a surprise and unexpected decision”

Yavapai Community College in a June 29 press release (not furnished the Blog by the College) says that it will seek a  Provost to replace Dr. Diane Ryan who resigned.  President Dr. Lisa Rhine said Dr. Ryan’s resignation “was a surprise and unexpected decision.”

The press release issued by the College to local press but not to the Blog despite Blog requests for information, in part, reads as follows:

Prescott, Arizona (June 29, 2023) – Yavapai College seeks Provost to lead the Division of Academic Affairs.  The transition is due to the decision by Dr. Diane Ryan to resign.

Dr. Janet Nix, Yavapai College Chief Human Resources Officer, will identify a firm that will conduct the national search, and a timeline of the process will be announced soon. In the interim, each member of the College’s executive leadership team will assume some of the duties and responsibilities of the Academic Affairs Division as the process is being defined and implemented.

“This was a surprise and unexpected decision. I respect Dr. Ryan’s decision to move on. I wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors. I also see this as a timely opportunity for the College to continue moving forward in a positive direction as we search for a new leader for academic affairs,” said Dr. Lisa Rhine, President of Yavapai College.

Over the past five years, the Division of Academic Affairs has made significant changes, including expanding the use of Open Educational Resources, which provides free textbooks and resources to students, and launching the college’s first baccalaureate degree in Business.

Why continue blatantly disregarding simple questions from residents and the media so it can maintain a total veil of secrecy over operations?

Editor, Robert Oliphant

Opinion: Yavapai Community College faces significant challenges due to its persistent lack of transparency and willingness to share meaningful information about its operations with the Sedona/Verde Valley residents and the wider Yavapai County community. This behavior, coupled with the District Governing Board’s complicity, is causing a myriad of problems for the institution.

Numerous instances highlight the College’s reluctance to provide essential information. For instance, the former Third District representative, Paul Chevalier, had to resort to Arizona’s public records law to obtain information about a project in his own district. Moreover, the College has outright dismissed inquiries from media outlets and residents, opting to selectively respond to questions when it suits their interests.

The most recent example is the College’s refusal to address a straightforward request from residents regarding the employment status of Vice President Dr. Diane Ryan. Instead of promptly clarifying the situation when residents noticed her absence on the College’s website, the institution chose to ignore the query altogether, leading to confusion and frustration among the community.

This lack of transparency fosters a sense of widespread distrust among residents. Yavapai Community College plays a vital role in providing educational resources and opportunities to Yavapai County, and its failure to be transparent undermines the public’s trust and faith in the institution. By concealing information, the College inadvertently creates a breeding ground for misinformation, as residents seek answers from unreliable sources, leading to a distorted understanding of its activities and decisions.

As a taxpayer-supported institution, Yavapai Community College has a duty to prioritize the interests of its residents. A transparent approach, characterized by open communication and cooperation, is essential in demonstrating the College’s commitment to the community it serves. Residents have a right to be informed about the College’s inner workings, especially when it directly impacts their lives and educational opportunities.

To rebuild trust and foster a positive relationship with Sedona/Verde Valley and County residents, Yavapai Community College must embrace transparency. Addressing residents’ concerns promptly and providing accurate and detailed information will begin to restore faith in the institution’s operations. Transparent communication is not only vital for good governance but also a crucial step towards strengthening the bond between the college and its residents throughout Yavapai County.

The College must recognize that its current lack of openness generates a host of problems that can be detrimental to its own success. By adopting a more transparent and cooperative stance, the College can rectify the situation, dispel misinformation, and put an end to damaging rumors. Genuine engagement and open communication about its operations will enable the college to fulfill its purpose as a valuable educational institution, benefiting both the Sedona/Verde Valley community and the entire County.