July 17, 2008
Four semifinalists named for presidency of Hennepin Technical College
Contact: Melinda Voss, (651) 296-9443, melinda.voss@so.mnscu.eduThe names of four semifinalists for president of Hennepin Technical College, which has campuses in Eden Prairie and Brooklyn Park, have been submitted to James H. McCormick, chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. The finalists are Jeffrey Cantor, Cecilia Cervantes, Ronald Kraft and Raymond Nadolny.
The semifinalists were recommended by a search committee chaired by Keith Stover, president of South Central College.
Jeffrey Cantor is interim vice president for academic affairs and
provost at the Pensacola campus at Pensacola Junior College in Florida. Previously, he served as dean of extended studies and workforce education at Norwalk Community College in Connecticut; director of technical education at the Virginia Community College System; dean of
occupational and adult education and acting dean of arts and sciences at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Fla.; associate professor of
secondary, adult and business education at City University of New York; research assistant in the department of educational leadership at
Florida State University; assistant professor and program coordinator of engineering technology at Montgomery College in Rockville, Md.; a
technology teacher at Prince George’s County Schools in Beltsville, Md.; and director of training for DDL OMNI Engineering Corp. at Chantilly, Va. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering technology and education from New York University, a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Florida State University.
Cecilia Cervantes is president of the College of Alameda in Alameda,
Calif. Previously, she served as associate vice president for lifelong learning and career-technical education at El Paso Community College District in Texas; provost of the Transmountain campus of El Paso Community College District; associate campus director for instruction and associate professor of reading at Doña Ana Community College in New Mexico; vice president of academic affairs at Western New Mexico University; dean of continuing education and dean of arts and humanities and director of federal projects at Community College of Denver; reading coordinator of the Right to Read project at the Denver Public Library and an elementary teacher in the Ysleta Public Schools in Texas. She
holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and a master’s degree in education from the University of Texas, El Paso and a doctorate degree
in curriculum and instruction from the University of Colorado.
Ronald Kraft is vice president of student affairs at Hennepin
Technical College. Previously, he served as interim president, dean of student affairs and dean of students at the Brooklyn Park campus at
Hennepin Technical College; campus president at Northwest Technical College in Bemidji; dean of student services and administration and
counselor, director of financial aid and special needs coordinator at Northwest Technical College, and a teacher and work experience coordinator at Roseau High School in Minnesota. He holds a bachelor’s degree in social studies from Minnesota State University Moorhead, a master’s degree in counseling and guidance from Bemidji State
University and is working on a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Minnesota.
Raymond Nadolny is vice president for institutional advancement at
Lake Washington Technical College in Kirkland, Wash. Previously, he served as an associate faculty member in philosophy, executive director
of development, director of occupational education and school to work, and tech prep coordinator at Cochise Community College in Arizona; youth
minister at Our Lady of the Mountains in Ashland, Ore., and a teacher at Driscoll High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and
history from Benedictine University, a master of theological studies from Mount Angel Seminary and a doctor’s degree in education from Oregon State University.
The new president will replace Kathryn Jeffery, who resigned to take another position. The chancellor, along with one to three members of the
Board of Trustees and others, will conduct interviews with the semifinalists. McCormick will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees, which could act on the recommendation at a special meeting July 30.
Hennepin Technical College serves more than 8,200 students in credit courses annually and provides a wide array of diplomas, certificates and
associate degree programs.
Minnesota's 31 state community and technical colleges, and universities serve more than 420,000 students across the state.
