Applicant field for Perkins’ presidency is narrowing

Four finalists have been selected to replace retiring Blue Ridge Community College James Perkins, according to a member of both the school’s local board and search committee.

Those four will undergo a background check by an outside firm hired by Virginia Community College Chancellor Glenn DuBois, Dr. Bruce Bowman said. Once the checks are made, the names will be released to the public, he said.

The checks will take 10 to 14 working days, and those will be followed by visits by the candidates to the Blue Ridge campus in late May and early June, Bowman said.

The candidates will spend a couple of days meeting with Blue Ridge’s local board as well as the faculty and administrative senates, Bowman said.

The new president could be selected by mid-June, said Jeff Kraus, assistant vice chancellor for public relations for the Virginia Community College system.

While the ultimate selection belongs to DuBois, “it is based on the local board’s recommendation,’’ Bowman said.

Bowman said the four finalists are all impressive.

“If they are not president of this community college, they will be president somewhere,’’ he said.

Perkins is retiring in August after 20 years on the job and unprecedented growth in the facilities and enrollment of Blue Ridge.

During Perkins’ tenure, the community college has added the Plecker Workforce Center and a fine arts center as well as guaranteed admission agreements for Blue Ridge graduates with some two dozen Virginia colleges and universities. 

Bowman said it will take some time for the next president to escape the presence of Perkins.

“The next president will be standing in Jim’s shadow for some time,’’ Bowman said. “But it does not mean the light won’t shine on their personality and skill set.”

Bowman said selecting Perkins’ replacement is “an opportunity for the college. We don’t want to replace him. But we need a new, unique and fresh personality to take us into the 21st century.”