MARSHALLTOWN (SPECIAL) – The Iowa Valley Community College District Board of Directors approved the appointment of Christopher Duree, Ph.D., State Center, as Iowa Valley Community College District Acting Chancellor on Tuesday, Nov. 17 in Marshalltown. Dr. Duree has been serving as the Provost of Marshalltown Community College since Nov. 10, 2008.

Duree received his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration with Community College Leadership Emphasis in 2007 from Iowa State University. Just prior to coming to MCC he was full-time faculty as a clinician/lecturer in the ISU Leadership Ph.D. Program and was the vice president of instruction, chief academic officer and career and technical education dean at Southwestern Community College in Creston from 1997 to 2006.

“I am very humbled and honored that the Board has the confidence in my abilities to work collaboratively with everyone throughout the District. We’ll keep the ship moving forward, and with everyone’s input and collective support take IVCCD to new levels of excellence,” says Acting Chancellor Duree.

The Iowa Valley Board of Directors interviewed three internal candidates in closed session before choosing Dr. Duree and approving his appointment after reconvening in open session. Board President Conrad Dejardin said the board members were very familiar with the qualifications of the candidates so the interviews focused on plans for the future of IVCCD. Also interviewed were Dr. Chris Russell, IVCCD Chief Academic Officer, and Mollie Teckenburg, Ellsworth Community College Provost.

The board approved a sabbatical leave for Chancellor Tim Wynes on Nov. 11 effective until June 30, 2010. Five board members were present for the meeting: Conrad Dejardin, Yvonne Mallory, Paul Paulson, Deborah Jones, and Ingvert Appel. Absent were Delbert Kellogg and Larry Johnson.