Criswell currently serves as vice president of administrative services at TC. He will take over the position from Dr. Marc Nigliazzo, who has served as president since 1995, and has accepted a position at the University of New Mexico.
“We have discussed the interim position with (Criswell) at great length in the past, and with positive thought,” said board of trustees chair Jack W. Jones, Jr. “We really appreciate his willingness to step into the position at this period of time.”
Jones said Criswell would receive an additional cash stipend for his responsibilities and duties while serving as president at the college.
Criswell’s stay as president will not last long, as board members discussed at length the college’s current national search for Nigliazzo’s replacement.
John H. Anthony, of Executive Resources Consulting Service in McKinney, is responsible for overseeing the search for a new president, and said he anticipates having a new president named by the end of July.
“We are currently on schedule to meet the demands of the board,” Anthony said. “We anticipate having a candidate selected by the end of July, so that a contract can be offered.”
Anthony said TC set an Aug. 15 deadline for the search to conclude, as the college would like to have a new president by the beginning of the fall semester.
Anthony said that as of Monday night, the college had received 47 applications from candidates for the position, and that 16 of the applicants were from Texas.
“We’ve received a number of applicants, which says a lot about the school and the community,” Anthony said.
A deadline of June 15 has been set for applications, although Anthony said the date could change if TC is not happy with the quality of the applicants.
A Presidential Search Screening Committee, consisting of six TC employees and five community members, has been put together by the college to review applications.
“We’ve received a number of applications from minorities and women,” Anthony said. “So we’ve already got a very diverse group of people in the applicant pool.”
Anthony said the screening committee has been reviewing applications, and candidates who are deemed favorable will have their applications presented to board members.
A finalist-screening week has been set for July 14-18, when five finalists for the position will be brought in individually each day to meet with the screening committee and board members as well as TC employees. According to the screening schedule, each candidate will have approximately 14 hours worth of events and interviews scheduled during their respective day.
Each candidate also will have the opportunity to speak to the public and meet for an hour.
The board also unanimously voted to name the college’s Administration Building in Nigliazzo’s honor.
“We’re going to have to remember to get the sign makers to spell your name correctly,” Jones joked. “I really can’t thank you enough for what you have done for this school.”
“When I found out that this was going to happen, I was totally surprised,” said Nigliazzo. “I’m deeply honored.”
Monday’s meeting marked Nigliazzo’s last before the board.
“I can tell you that I was more nervous sitting here 13 years ago than I am tonight,” said Nigliazzo. “This board has been very good to me, and provided me with some great opportunities.”
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