October 27, 2003
Acting president for Alexandria Technical College named as search begins to replace Shellito
Jan Mahoney, chief financial officer, to become acting president effective Nov. 3
Contact: Melinda Voss, (651) 296-9443, melinda.voss@so.mnscu.edu
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System Chancellor James
H. McCormick today named Jan Mahoney as acting president of Alexandria
Technical College, effective Nov. 3 when President Larry Shellito
assumes leadership of the Minnesota National Guard.
A search for Shellito's replacement as president will begin immediately,
said Bill Tschida, the system's vice chancellor for human resources.
Mahoney, the college's chief financial officer, will serve as acting
president until the system Board of Trustees meets in December and
names an interim president. Tschida plans to visit the college next
week to discuss the search for Shellito's successor with the campus
community.
"I am confident that Jan Mahoney will be an excellent acting president,"
Chancellor McCormick said. "She has 16 years of administrative experience
at the college and is a key part of a strong leadership team developed
by President Shellito."
Mahoney, an accounting graduate from Alexandria Technical College,
holds a bachelor's degree in communications from the University
of Minnesota, Morris, and a master's degree in higher education
administration from St. Cloud State University. In 1987, she came
to the college as business manager and became chief financial officer
in 1995.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty today appointed Shellito, who has been president
of Alexandria Technical College since 1995, as adjutant general
of the Minnesota National Guard.
"Larry Shellito has been an outstanding president for Alexandria
Technical College - for its students, faculty and the community,"
Chancellor McCormick said. "He is a strong contributor to our systemwide
leadership team and has led the way on the innovative use of technology
in educational settings. Likewise, he has made the practice of continuous
improvement a reality on the campus."
Board of Trustees Chair Jim A. Luoma said, "Alexandria Technical
College has built a track record that will require a distinctive
set of skills, qualifications and leadership style in its future
president, and we look forward to getting the search process under
way."
Shellito is major general in the National Guard and division commander
with the 34th Infantry Division based in Rosemount. Shellito's educational
background includes a bachelor's degree in accounting and business
administration, a bachelor's degree in distributive education and
a master's degree in business education, all from Minnesota State
University Moorhead, and a doctorate in education from the University
of Minnesota.
Shellito's career at the college began as a student teacher in 1972,
and since then he has held a number of teaching and administrative
positions while also serving in the military.
In his dual positions, Shellito has helped develop collaborative
training and educational opportunities for troops. Currently, about
390 National Guard troops are taking college courses online in Bosnia
and nearby countries through the Guard Online program, which involves
nine Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, including Alexandria
Technical College.
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System comprises 33
state universities and community and technical colleges serving
the higher education needs of Minnesota. The system serves about
240,000 students per year in credit-based courses and an additional
130,000 students in non-credit courses.
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