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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Spina Named Interim President of Thomas Nelson Community College


Dr. Peter A. Spina, president emeritus of MCC, has been appointed interim president at Thomas Nelson Community College (TNCC).

Spina served as Monroe Community College president for more than 18 years. He served for many years as a director and officer of the League for Innovation at Monroe Community College. He will become interim president of Thomas Nelson effective Aug. 11, 2003, and will preside over the college for six to nine months while a national search for a new president is conducted. Dr. Shirley Pippins, currently president of TNCC, announced last month she will leave the college after eight years to take a community college presidency in New York state.

“Thomas Nelson Community College is a great institution that needs a world-class president, even during an interim period while we conduct a national search to replace Dr. Shirley Pippins,” said Dr. DuBois, chancellor of the Virginia Community College System. “Pete Spina is a tremendous leader in the community college arena. His many accomplishments are studied by today’s graduate students and the next generation of community college leaders. We are very fortunate to get Pete to serve in this interim role.”

Dr. Spina holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from New York University and has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University at Albany. His service awards include recognition in a University of Texas study as one of 50 national community college transformational leaders, designation by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) as Outstanding CEO and recipient of the Thomas R. Peters award for leadership.

Thomas Nelson Community College, the fourth largest in the system, has a campus in Hampton and is developing a new campus in the greater Williamsburg area.

Cynthia Cooper
Public Affairs
07/15/2003