Presidential Profile

The Board of Trustees invites inquiries, nominations and applications for the position of President of Delta College, University Center, Michigan. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and enjoys full accreditation status. This leader will serve as the college’s sixth president in its 65‐year history.

Delta College is seeking a visionary, collaborative and inclusive leader who will prioritize student success and advance belonging, equity, diversity, and inclusion, community partnerships, and innovation. The president will: 

• Build on the culture and history of the college and work with the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, and community to recruit students and create opportunities for all to reach their fullest potential.
• Align the skills of graduates with the workforce training needs by working with community and business representatives.
• Sustain a culture of trust.
• Empower faculty and staff to work together to create pathways to success for every student.
• Cultivate and leverage existing impactful relationships with local stakeholders and beyond.

Delta College was founded in 1961 to serve the residents of Saginaw, Bay, and Midland Counties. These three counties comprise the district for the college and, while part of the Great Lakes Bay Region, are distinct in their strengths and characteristics. The college is known for its strong community connections, industry‐focused training programs, collaboration with local school districts, and commitment to an inclusive and equitable campus. The college serves students on its main campus and at its downtown centers in Saginaw, Bay City, and Midland. The 640‐acre main campus also includes a residence that is available to the President. The college is within 15 minutes of the local airport and just two hours from several major metropolitan communities. 

The Great Lakes Bay Region is family-oriented, offering a mix of natural beauty with progressive development and a variety of opportunities for education, cultural activities, and year‐round outdoor recreation. A moderate cost of living and diverse economic base makes it a desirable destination for residents and companies. Major employers include regional medical centers, school systems, and universities (including a college of medicine), municipalities, financial institutions, and a range of manufacturers that are world leaders in materials science and chemicals, automotive supply, and agriculture. The workforce is made up of highly motivated, skilled and educated employees, many of whom are Delta graduates.

One out of every three local high school graduates in the region attends Delta College and 79% of its graduates from the last five years continue to live in Saginaw, Bay, or Midland Counties, while 98% live in the state of Michigan. With nearly 800 faculty and staff, Delta College is one of the largest employers in Bay County, and it serves more than 9,000 students annually. With an average age of 23, 38% of students are enrolled in academic programs with plans to transfer to a four‐year college to complete a bachelor’s degree. About 62% are enrolled in career programs, entering the workforce upon graduation.

In FY 2023-24, Delta College added $469.7 million in income to its service district economy, a value approximately equal to 2.3% of the region’s total gross regional product (GRP). Expressed in terms of jobs, Delta College’s impact supported 6,318 jobs. That means, 1 out of every 33 jobs in the district is supported by the activities of Delta College and its students.

Through Michigan Reconnect, a state of Michigan initiative offering in-district tuition‐free access for those 25 and older, Delta College continues to grow adult enrollment and increase diversity. And, Michigan also launched the Community College Guarantee, which helps recent high school graduates earn a skill certificate or associate degree at their local community college tuition-free. All recent Michigan high school graduates may be eligible with a completed FAFSA, regardless of family income.

The college is in a strong financial position and remains free of any operational and infrastructure debt. The college is funded primarily by property taxes, state aid, and tuition and fees. In addition, the college has a strong Foundation with an endowment valued at $38.3 million. The general fund is $85 million; when all funds are combined, $124.7 million. It offers the lowest in‐district tuition rate in the region and a favorable student‐to‐instructor ratio.

Delta College’s academic and career programs are strong as evidenced by transfer agreement outcomes and employability. Delta offers 84 associate degrees and 78 certificates that range from computer science and manufacturing to healthcare and law enforcement. The college is increasing its ongoing commitment to skilled trades while maintaining a priority focus on the liberal arts. In addition, the college is committed to partnering with K‐12 and has a robust dual enrollment program.

Delta College is one of only a few community colleges in the nation to host both public radio and public TV stations on campus, connecting to more than 1.4 million viewers and listeners each year. The college’s unique assets for community education and outreach include a planetarium and an observatory.  

Recent recognitions

• Campus Compact awarded Delta College its Eduardo J. Padrón Award for Institutional Transformation in recognition of institution-wide alignment of teaching, research, practice, and values in service of the common good. 
• Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) recognized Delta for its dedication to expanding access to higher education and efforts to support student success with an aim to increase the percentage of residents with a degree or postsecondary credential.
• Delta College earned Leader College distinction from Achieving the Dream (AtD), a national designation awarded to community colleges that commit to improving student success and closing achievement gaps. The College has been part of the AtD Network since 2010.
• MCAN established the Endurance Award to recognize institutions or individual institution leaders who drive innovative solutions in college access and student success. Delta College embodies this commitment, making substantial strides in helping more Michigan students enter and complete their education.
• Delta College holds Gold Level status for being a Certified Veteran-Friendly School by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.
• Delta College is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE), jointly sponsored by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
• Delta College is designated as a Voter-Friendly Campus, earned ALL IN’s “Highly Established Action Plan Seal” for the 2024 election cycle and continues doing its part to empower students in making their voices heard. 
• The college just completed the computer science wing, a $6.7 million renovation, to support the semiconductor, cybersecurity, networking, and other computer science related programs.
• Delta College is a founding member of the League for Innovation in the Community College, a non‐profit organization dedicated to cultivating innovation in the nation’s community colleges.

Challenges and opportunities

1. Facilitate a sense of unity within the college. Actively seek input from all constituents and strengthen cross‐campus communication and collaboration. Continue a culture of trust and transparency. Inspire and engage faculty and staff, students, trustees, and stakeholders to work together to address the college’s and communities’ challenges and opportunities.
2. Collaborate with faculty and staff to strengthen strategic enrollment management, retention, and completion. Focus on expanding access via new and existing programs and partnerships. Ensure a strong alignment between curricular offerings, student interests, workforce needs, and economic opportunities.
3. Serve as a regional leader. Strengthen alliances through collaboration with local business and industry, school districts, universities, and elected officials to meet educational, cultural, workforce, and economic development needs. The region’s demographics include potential students and employers in urban, rural, and suburban settings.
4. Lead a sustainable commitment to belonging, equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts throughout the college. Foster programs and services that support recruitment, increase retention, and completion rates for the success of all students.
5. Engage with faculty and staff to maintain employee morale to retain a sense of community within the college.
6. Provide continued leadership in assessing and upgrading the campus infrastructure and technology, ensuring safe and state‐of‐the‐art facilities for learning. Ensure the success of all learning facilities.
7. Enhance funding model that will support the college’s strategic plan and the success of all students.
8. Develop an in‐depth understanding of, and relationships with, the distinct communities throughout the service area, building on the unique characteristics of each county/city including demographics, industries, economic challenges, and educational entities.

Preferred characteristics

Delta College seeks a president who is an effective communicator and an ambassador and advocate for the college and its students. This leader will strengthen the academic and global profile of the institution, be visible and accessible on campus and in the regional community, notably in under‐served areas. Preferred characteristics include:

1. Vision: Guided by ethics and integrity, a leader who communicates bold vision and creates a foundation of trust, transparency, accountability, and collaboration to achieve that vision.
2. Collaboration: Demonstrates a proven track record of fostering and implementing public/private partnerships with education, business, industry, and multicultural communities to meet regional education and workforce needs.
3. Inclusion: Possesses an evidence‐based commitment to belonging, equity, diversity, and inclusion through intentional partnerships with measurable institutional and community impact.
4. Team leader: Models and supports the professional development, recruitment, and retention of diverse faculty and staff.
5. Listening: Seeks input from all constituents and is accountable to the college and community.
6. Innovation: Data‐driven, takes appropriate risks and understands the implications of changes on students, faculty, staff, and the community. Supportive of faculty and staff in novel approaches to increase student learning, retention, belonging, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
7. Technology‐savvy: Embraces, leverages, and supports technology on campus and in the classroom.
8. Fiscally astute: Develops and implements a sustainable funding model that supports the college’s strategic plan.
9. Engagement and advocacy: Advances the college’s position and strategies to secure support and resources to advance the college and its students. Engages with associations at the local, state, and national level including Michigan Community College Association (MCCA), American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), League for Innovation in the Community College, and Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT).
10.  Committed to community colleges: An understanding of the complex dynamics of a comprehensive community college including respect for shared governance, the collective bargaining process, and accountability to an elected Board of Trustees, to achieve the goals of the college.
11.  Academic experience: Brings diverse classroom/faculty experience from inside higher education to enrich the college.
12.  Non‐academic expertise: Brings diverse experiences from outside higher education to enrich the college with the perspectives of its communities and constituencies.

Required qualifications

• Master’s degree required. Doctorate or terminal degree preferred.
• Three or more years of senior level administrative experience in higher education.
• Community college experience.
• Classroom teaching experience.

How to apply:

This is a confidential search process. To ensure full consideration, application materials should be received no later than February 9, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.

To apply go to www.acctsearches.org and upload your documents.

Candidates will need to have the following information or materials available to complete the application:

1. 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 Delta College.
2. A current resume including an email address and cellular telephone number.
3. 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.

Delta College is an Equal Opportunity Employer, affording equal employment opportunity regardless of a person’s religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify or expression, height, weight, marital status, disability, and any other legally protected characteristic.

Any employment offer is contingent on the applicant and a college representative signing a written employment contract and the Delta College Board of Trustees approving that contract during a public meeting held under the Michigan Open Meetings Act.

For additional information, nominations, or confidential inquiries please contact:

• G. Duncan Harris, Ed.D., ACCT Search Consultant, at g.duncan.harris@gmail.com or 860-752-5681