AWC Board Advances Sole Preferred Candidate for College President
Arizona Western College’s District Governing Board announced it will consider Dr. Reetika Dhawan as its sole preferred candidate to succeed retiring President Dr. Daniel Corr, with November candidate forums and a formal interview planned before any appointment. The move signals a push for leadership stability as the college navigates local growth and shifting higher‑education dynamics that affect workforce training and regional economic development.
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The Arizona Western College District Governing Board has advanced Dr. Reetika Dhawan as its sole preferred candidate to replace outgoing President Dr. Daniel Corr, the board announced this week. Board leaders said they will hold candidate forums in November and conduct a formal interview before making any final decision, underscoring that the process is not complete.
The board’s action narrows the presidential search to a single candidate at a moment the college faces both opportunity and scrutiny. AWC serves as a central institution for higher education and workforce development in Yuma County; leadership choices affect programming, community partnerships, and how the college responds to changing enrollment patterns and state funding priorities. Board officials described the move as intended to provide stability amid growth and evolving higher‑education trends.
For residents, employers and students in Yuma County, the selection process will shape priorities such as vocational training, transfer pathways to four‑year institutions, and alignment with local labor market needs. The timing coincides with broader pressures on community colleges to adapt to workforce demands and to sustain enrollment while maintaining fiscal stability. AWC’s next president will influence curriculum development, workforce partnership strategies, and the college’s role in regional economic planning.
The decision to name a sole preferred candidate raises governance questions about transparency and public engagement in an institution that relies on local support. The board’s scheduling of November candidate forums provides a structured opportunity for civic review; those forums and the formal interview will be the primary public venues for evaluating the preferred candidate before the board votes. Attendance and participation by students, faculty, local business leaders and elected officials will be the principal ways the community can assess the candidate’s fit and priorities.
Board members must balance the stated need for continuity with obligations to ensure an open and accountable selection process. How the board communicates its evaluation criteria and the results of the formal interview will affect public trust in the eventual appointment. For Yuma County stakeholders, the outcome will have tangible consequences for educational access, workforce readiness and the college’s capacity to support regional growth.
As the November forums approach, residents and stakeholders will be watching how the District Governing Board proceeds, what issues emerge during public questioning, and how the board ultimately translates this single-candidate recommendation into a final vote.
