ROCHESTER, N.Y. –April 27, 2009- The Monroe Community College Board of Trustees today named Anne M. Kress, Ph.D. the fifth president of MCC.

Kress is currently provost and vice president for academic affairs at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Fla. Her appointment as MCC president is effective July 6, 2009.

“Anne Kress brings to MCC an in-depth understanding of how community colleges can meet the changing needs of their students and communities,” said Kenneth Goode, chair of the MCC Board of Trustees. “She is an exceptional educator and administrator who embraces technology, innovation and collaboration, and has a great deal of experience in workforce and economic development. The MCC family is delighted to welcome her as its next president,” Goode said.

“We asked the members of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee and the Faculty Senate’s Special Committee on Administrative Affairs to help us identify extraordinary leaders to take Monroe Community College to the next level, and they delivered,” Goode added.

“I am grateful to the MCC Board of Trustees, members of the search committees, and the college community for placing their trust in me,” said Kress. “When I talk to the students and faculty, I see their love for MCC; there is a clear and passionate commitment to student success. I look forward to working with faculty, staff, administrators and the Greater Rochester community to uphold and advance MCC’s pivotal role in this community,” Kress said.

Kress succeeds Interim President Larry W. Tyree, Ed.D., who will assist with the leadership transition. Tyree joined the college after R. Thomas Flynn retired from the presidency in August 2008. Kress’ appointment is pending approval by the State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees.

About Anne M. Kress, Ph.D.
Kress is provost and vice president of academic affairs at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Fla., a role in which she has served since January 2005. Santa Fe College has an annual enrollment of 16,500. (MCC’s enrollment is 18,100.) Kress brings more than 20 years of experience as an administrator and educator in higher education. She has spent most of her career at Santa Fe, previously serving as associate vice president for information management and education technologies and as chair of the English Department.

In her current role, she handles much of the day-to-day operations of the college in the president’s absence. In addition to an annual operating budget of more than $33 million in Santa Fe’s largest division, she also oversees more than 250 full-time faculty at one campus, five centers and online .

Her in-depth knowledge of academic programs, coupled with her ability to identify community needs and educate potential donors about those needs, has contributed to many successful collaborations in the community – and to new programs. For example, under her leadership Santa Fe College secured funding from businesses, schools, government entities, foundations and workforce boards for a number of significant facility projects.

Kress has written and directed major grants from the U.S. Department of Education and other foundations and state agencies, including projects to develop a complete suite of online student services and transform academic scheduling. Her dedication to online instruction goes back to the early 1990s when she was one of the first faculty at Santa Fe to teach online via e-mail. Under her direction, the college bolstered online classes and expanded online services for students to include live-chat advising, tutoring and reference librarian services. Her other achievements include reviving and enhancing several programs and initiatives, such as honors, international education, fine arts, sustainability, and research in undergraduate education.

As Santa Fe’s representative to the League for Innovation in the Community College since 2005, Kress has worked with MCC representatives on many occasions. The League is an international organization committed to improving community colleges through innovation, experimentation and institutional transformation. MCC and Santa Fe are two of only 19 board members.

A native of Milwaukee, Wis., Kress earned her degrees from the University of Florida. She received a doctoral degree in higher education administration, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in English, and a bachelor’s degree with honors in finance.

Kress has written or co-authored a number of publications, including a rhetoric and composition textbook, “NextText,” which teaches students critical thinking, reading and writing skills required for academic work.

She enjoys reading, writing, quilting, cooking, baking, traveling and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Ned Davis, have two children.

###
Media Contact:
Cynthia Cooper
College and Community Relations
585-292-3022
ccooper@monroecc.edu