President

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Job description

Presidential Profile

Founded in 1935, Kilgore College (KC) enjoys a great tradition of preparing students for success, offering high-quality educational opportunities, athletics, residential housing, the Kilgore College Rangerettes, cultural arts, the Texas Shakespeare Festival, the East Texas Oil Museum, Rangerette Showcase and Museum, and a rich history connecting with the community and regional workforce. The Board of Trustees at Kilgore College welcomes applicants to become the tenth President of the institution, following the retirement of Dr. Brenda Kays in February of 2026.

Kilgore College is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, having been reaffirmed in 2019 with the next reaffirmation process in 2029. Kilgore College serves 20 Independent School Districts, with seven of those within the taxing district.

Mission Statement: Kilgore College provides a learner-centered environment that focuses on student access, success, completion, and post-completion success, via collaborative partnerships.

  • Kilgore College promotes access through its open-door admission, distance learning opportunities, dual credit courses, developmental education, continuing education, and comprehensive scholarship and financial aid programs.
  • Kilgore College promotes success through high quality innovative instruction and holistic student support services and activities.
  • Kilgore College promotes completion and post-completion success by providing a foundation for students to seamlessly transition either through university transfer or entry into the workforce as highly skilled and technologically advanced employees.
  • Kilgore College leads and promotes partnerships through outreach to area schools and universities, small business/entrepreneurial expansion, adult education and literacy, responsiveness to economic development needs, and promotion of social and cultural advancement.

Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Piney Woods of East Texas, Kilgore offers scenic landscapes featuring year-round greenery, picturesque lakes, and abundant natural beauty. The region combines small-town charm with big-city convenience, providing excellent employment opportunities, an affordable cost of living, and easy access to both the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and the Shreveport, Louisiana, metropolitan area.

Opportunities and Challenges

The next President should be a student-focused, partnership-oriented leader who embraces the College’s hardworking culture and deep appreciation for its traditions, brings proven experience in finance, operations, and coalition building, while leading the institution into the future.

The Kilgore College President is the face of Kilgore College, modeling the way by being highly involved and visible in the regional community, participating actively in community organizations and activities, Kilgore College events, performances and activities and keenly understands and appreciates the unique culture of the East Texas region.

The next President of Kilgore College will continue the implementation of the performance-based funding model for Texas community colleges, as well as the continued demand for more innovative and flexible class offerings.

Dual credit instruction, one component of the new HB8 funding model, has contributed to record enrollments of 8,137 students and an increase in dual credit students of 68% over the past two years. High School Dual Credit enrollment now accounts for 62% of the total enrollment at Kilgore College. Such growth in dual credit naturally creates challenges in staffing, scheduling, and preserving an active student life on campus.

The institution has unlimited opportunities to serve as a catalyst for economic development, working with local and regional entities and leaders, local school districts, and elected and appointed officials in a coordinated effort to expand a qualified workforce that meets the needs of local business and industry.

The tenth President will foster a culture and an environment that promotes employee training and continuing education, and empowers employees to participate in distributed decision-making. The applicant will demonstrate a behavior of transparency and excellent communication. The next President will understand the challenges of serving a rural service area with off-site instruction at its Longview campus (KC-Longview) and in the neighboring communities, while at the same time continuing to develop strategies to assist first generation, underserved, and academically and economically challenged students.

Essential Qualities and Characteristics:

  • Exhibit a capability to build a strong, cohesive team by fostering collaboration, resolving conflicts, and creating an environment where everyone can thrive; this is to include shared governance among employees at all levels.
  • Possess excellent communication skills; be able to speak, write, and present transparent and understandable explanations for shaping the direction of the College
  • Demonstrate strong support for athletics and the cultural arts and is committed to maintaining and advancing Kilgore College’s longstanding traditions in these programs
  • Exhibit an openness to receiving input from all levels of the College stakeholders, welcoming ideas that challenge the status quo
  • Collaboratively develop and articulate a clear and inspiring vision of the future of Kilgore College
  • Demonstrate integrity, honesty, trustworthiness, and a strong moral compass of high ethical standards
  • Exhibit a spirit of empathy, understanding, and caring about the needs of the staff and the students
  • Model accountability by taking responsibility for decisions and actions, maintaining personal and employee accountability for performance and results
  • Possess analytical and critical thinking skills and the utilization of data to make informed decisions that identify and address challenges, while inspiring and implementing solutions
  • Demonstrate a proven track record improving student success, including improvements in access, retention, completion, transfer, and entry into the workforce
  • Possess an understanding of low-income, non-traditional, first-generation college students, and underserved student populations
  • Demonstrate knowledge, experience and success interacting with state and locally elected officials, and state agencies
  • Exhibit a track record of successful development and growth of workforce programs within various segments of the workforce
  • Possess a knowledge of current technological competence, awareness, and applications
  • Demonstrate a proven track record in working with a college foundation, along with proven success in creating alternate revenue sources, including grants and philanthropic activities
  • Develop rapport with business/community leaders and proactively pursue the training needs of business, industry, and the community
  • Illustrate experience with dual-credit programs and working with public and private school systems

Qualifications:

  • Minimum of 3-5 years of senior level administrative experience with increasing responsibility in higher education, preferably at the community college level
  • Community college instructional experience is highly preferred
  • An earned doctorate from a regionally accredited institution is strongly preferred.

Links to the history, programs, and various facets of Kilgore College:

How to apply

This is a confidential search process. To ensure full consideration, application materials should be received no later than January 16, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.

To apply go directly to ACCT at https://acctsearches.org/president-kilgore-college-tx/ and upload your documents.

Candidates will need to have the following information or materials available to complete the application:

  1. A letter of application (not to exceed 5 pages) that succinctly addresses the opportunities and challenges identified in the Position Profile and demonstrates how the candidate’s experience and professional qualifications prepare them to serve as the President of Kilgore College.
  2. A current resume including an email address and cellular telephone number.
  3. A list of eight references: example, two to three supervisors, two to three direct reports, and two to three faculty and/or staff members from current and former institutions.

For additional information, nominations or confidential inquiries please contact: Bill Holda, Ed.D., ACCT Search Consultant, [email protected] or (903) 987-3332 (mobile)