Presidential Search
The Central Arizona College Board of Governors has initiated a national search to identify the next President of Central Arizona College. We are committed to a process that is equitable, inclusive, and transparent.
We invite our college community and the public to participate.
Overview
The Board of Governors has announced that the search is underway to identify the next President of Central Arizona College.
Applications and nominations for the position of President of Central Arizona College are currently being accepted until the position is filled.
The target date for applications is: May 28, 2026
If you have any questions or suggestions, or would like to make a confidential inquiry, please contact:
Cindy Lopez
ACCT Director of Search Services and Tribal College Initiatives
clopez@acct.org
(405) 255-2566.
Search Committee Members
Trustee/Committee Chair
Ms. Evelyn Casuga
Trustee
Ms. Sheila Muehling
Faculty Senate President
Dr. Joe Faykosh
Faculty Senate Vice-President
Dr. Dawn Conley
Managerial & Technical
Support Association
Mr. Derek Shank
Managerial & Technical
Support Association
Ms. Amanda Whatley
Support Staff Association
Ms. Veronica Sauceda
Support Staff Association
Ms. Griselda Speaker
Foundation Member
Mr. Brett Benedict
Casa Grande Community
Stakeholder
Mr. Mike Cruz
Maricopa Community
Stakeholder
Ms. Torri Anderson
Apache Junction Community
Stakeholder
Ms. Lydia Henry
CAC Student
Mr. Tyler Long
Key Dates
April 8, 2026
Public Forums
May 28, 2026
Application Due Date
July 2026
Finalist Forums
Sept 1st, 2026
Start Date
Timeline
* Timeline is subject to change
2026
Profile Draft Development
ACCT facilitates a series of open public forums to solicit input for the development of a Draft Presidential Profile.
2026
Search Committee Training and Orientation:
Committee receives, reviews, and edits the draft Presidential Profile. The Board of Governors to review, discuss, edit, and finalize the Profile.
2026
Position is open and advertised
The Presidential Profile is posted on the College website and acctsearches.org. ACCT conducts targeted local, state-wide, and national one-to-one recruitment.
2026
Target Date for Receipt of Applications
Position open until filled.
2026
Search Committee Meeting
Discussion and selection of confidential semifinalist candidates.
2026
Search Committee Meeting
Confidential interviews with semifinalists. Committee deliberates and selects finalists to forward to the Board of Governors for further consideration.
2026
Finalist Interview
Finalists interview with the Board of Governors, tour campuses, participate in open public forums, and meet with direct reports.
2026
President of CAC Announced
Board of Governors announces the next President of Central Arizona College.
2026
Start Date
Start date for next President or as agreed upon by the President-elect and the Board of Governors.
Progress Reports
Progress Report #1
March 25th, 2026
Presidential Search Update & Invitation to Attend Public Forums
Progress Report #2
April 13th, 2026
Presidential Search Update
Progress Report #3
July 1st, 2026
Announcement of Dates and Time for Presidential Finalists Public Forums
Progress Report #4
July 7th, 2026
Announcement of Presidential Finalists.
Finalist
The Central Arizona College Board of Governors is pleased to announce the three finalists who have been invited to campus as part of the search for the next President of Central Arizona College.
Schedules for each candidates public forum can be found in Progress Report #4.
Clint Ewell, EdD
Clint Ewell is a higher education leader with over 20 years of experience advancing measurable student and organizational transformation, both as an administrator and as an HLC Peer Reviewer. Clint currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Yavapai College, with enterprise responsibilities across 7 locations through a team of 150 people. His top priorities have been creating an integrated planning process that allows the college to remain “future-ready”, aligning limited college resources in support of student success and workforce development, and developing a team of cross-functional leaders committed to service excellence.
Under Clint’s leadership, his teams have numerous achievements including innovative workforce and non-traditional housing solutions, GFOA awards for transparency in Budgeting and in Financial Reporting, well-maintained facilities leading to one of the highest Net Asset Value scores in the nation, one of the first community college Police Departments to become accredited by IACLEA, and recent recognition for Best Interdepartmental Collaboration at Infocomm for the IT department. Notably, Clint designed, then led the cross-functional implementation of, a Promise scholarship program which became a Bellwether Finalist. The unique design dramatically improved completion rates, which in turn contributed to YC’s recent selection as an Aspen Institute Top 200 Community College.
Clint is known for building strong, empowered teams grounded in shared governance, transparency, and trust—where people feel deeply connected to the College Vision, to students, and to one another. He holds a Doctor of Education from the University of New Mexico, a Master of Management from Northwestern University, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame.
Lisa B. Rhine, Ph.D.
Dr. Lisa Rhine is in her eighth year as president of Yavapai College and brings more than 37 years of leadership experience in colleges and universities across Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, and Arizona. She serves on numerous local, regional, and national boards and committees, including the Board of Directors for the Community College Baccalaureate Association, the Executive Committee of the Alliance for Innovation and Transformation, the Executive Board of Arizona Women in Higher Education, and the Presidential Liaison for Arizona to the American Council on Education Women’s Network. She also serves on the Arizona Commerce Authority Board of Directors.
As President and CEO of Yavapai College, Dr. Rhine leads a multi-campus rural community college district serving 10,000 students annually with a budget exceeding $120 million and more than 1,000 employees. During her tenure, Yavapai College has achieved national distinction for student success, innovation, workforce alignment, and institutional culture. The Aspen Institute named YC a Top 200 College in 2026, and the college was recognized nationally and statewide as a Top Workplace by USAToday in 2025 and 2026. YC improved graduation and completion rates to rank first in Arizona across multiple metrics, reduced student loan default rates by 85%, increased associate degree production by 58% in two years, and significantly expanded Hispanic student enrollment—positioning the college as an Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution. YC has been selected as a Bellwether Finalist three out of the last five years.
An inaugural Aspen Presidential Fellow (2016–17), Dr. Rhine is dedicated to advancing student success by strengthening learning, access, and workforce outcomes. Her leadership has been recognized nationally and regionally. She was named the Pacific Region CEO of the Year by the Association of Community College Trustees in 2021, received the Paragon President’s Award from Phi Theta Kappa in 2021, and was nominated as the American Association of Community Colleges CEO of the Year in 2023. She was honored as Business Leader of the Year 2025 by the Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce as well as Business Woman of the Year 2025 by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Rhine and her husband, Jim, live in Prescott Arizona and enjoy hiking, kayaking, dancing bachata, salsa and country swing and spending time with their grown children.
Jess Kelly, Ph.D.
Dr. Jess Kelly serves as Executive Director of Online Teaching and Learning and Chief Academic Officer for Lone Star College-Online, where he provides leadership for one of the nation’s most innovative online community colleges. Previously, he served as Dean of Instruction at Lone Star College-University Park, Senior Executive Dean of STEM and Executive Dean of the School of Health Sciences at Dallas College. Earlier in his career, he held faculty and leadership positions at Baylor University, Ouachita Baptist University, and the Arkansas Academy of Science, building more than three decades of experience in teaching, academic leadership, accreditation, workforce development, and institutional transformation.
Throughout his career, Dr. Kelly has remained committed to a simple belief: everyone deserves opportunity. As a community college graduate himself, he believes higher education has the power to transform lives, strengthen communities, and create pathways that individuals may not have imagined possible. His leadership has advanced student success initiatives through accreditation and institutional effectiveness, Achieving the Dream, Guided Pathways, workforce partnerships, and shared governance while building cultures grounded in trust, integrity, innovation, and service. He is deeply committed to developing faculty and staff and creating environments where students, employees, and communities can thrive.
Dr. Kelly earned a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Baylor University, a Master of Science degree in Limnology and Applied Statistics, a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Chemistry from Stephen F. Austin State University, and an Associate of Arts degree from Tyler Junior College.
How to Apply:
This is a confidential search process. To ensure full consideration, application materials should be received no later than May 28, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.
To apply go to ACCT Searches website and upload your documents.
Candidates will need to have the following information or materials available to complete the application:
- A letter of application (not to exceed 5 pages) that succinctly addresses the opportunities and challenges identified in the Position Profile and demonstrates how the candidate’s experience and professional qualifications prepare them to serve as the President of Central Arizona College.
- A current resume including an email address and cellular telephone number.
- A list of eight references: for example, two to three supervisors, two to three direct reports, and two to three faculty and/or staff members from current and former institutions.
For additional information, nominations, or confidential inquiries please contact:
Cindy Lopez
ACCT Director of Search Services and Tribal College Initiatives
clopez@acct.org
(405) 255-2566.