Vice President Eun-Woo Chang of Academic Affairs worked his last day in office on February 8 at Mercer County Community College (MCCC). The Vice President tendered his resignation to accept a position as Provost at Ashland University in Ohio.
Prior to Dr. Chang’s departure, the college hosted a farewell reception to say thanks and to wish him well in his new position. The event took place in the Art Gallery on Thursday February 4.
Originally, Dr. Chang was planning to stay at MCCC for at least three years. However, in the middle of the previous semester, Chang felt like circumstances started to change and he wanted to see a new beginning.
During Dr. Chang’s speech at his reception, he reminded faculty and staff members that “no matter what happens at the college you should never lose focus in the classroom and always take care of your students”.
Although Dr. Chang’s time here was short, he had greatly influenced MCCC’s S.T.E.M program. With his help, the school received a grant in the amount of $600,000 from the NSF to help provide 116 full-tuition scholarships to students who are pursuing a career in STEM programs.
In a letter to her colleagues, President Dr. Jianping Wang stated “I want to express a final word of appreciation for Dr. Chang’s many contributions to Mercer as he move[s] on to his next position as Provost of Ashland University in Ohio.”
In response to Dr. Chang’s leaving, second year Business Administration major Wai-Kit Fung said that “Although I never personally met [Dr.Chang] I did see a difference between my first year at Mercer to my second. I wish him the best of luck in the future.”
The search to replace Dr. Chang has already begun and the posting of the position will be sent to national publications, like the Chronicle of Higher Education.
The search committee will convene in March and is expecting to deliver recommendations by the end of next month. Finalist will be sent to the Board of Trustees for consideration at their normal meeting on April 21.
For now, Assistant Vice President for Academic Operations Susan Zambrio will run Academic Affairs until February 22 when Dr. Richard Fulton receives official approval by the Board of Trustees.
