Trustees Choose Dr. Robert S. Shackleford Jr. as New President of Randolph Community College

ASHEBORO (November 4, 2006) - The Randolph Community College Board of Trustees announced today its choice of Dr. Robert S. Shackleford Jr. as the next president of the College, subject to final approval by the State Board of Community Colleges on Nov. 17. Shackleford is currently vice president for student development at Rockingham Community College in Wentworth, N.C.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to say that we are extremely pleased to announce that Dr. Robert Shackleford has been chosen as the candidate to be submitted to the State Board of Community Colleges for final approval as the next president of Randolph Community College,” said Board Chair Jim Campbell. “A long and thorough search process was conducted. I am confident we have selected the right individual for the job. He is as excited as we are about the future of Randolph Community College.”

Shackleford is expected to take over the leadership of Randolph Community College on January 1, 2007, replacing Dr. Larry K. Linker, who has been serving as interim president since July 1. Linker, who originally retired as Randolph’s president in 2000, returned to the College in March as senior vice president and chief operating officer, when Dr. Richard Heckman announced his resignation. “I want to thank Dr. Larry Linker for his leadership and hard work during this transitional period,” said Campbell. “We will always be grateful to have had his wisdom and experience to help set the stage for this new chapter in the life of the College.”

Campbell also noted “how much he and the Board sincerely appreciate all the input from the community and faculty and staff of the College during the search for the new president.” That search began with two public forums in May to gather input from the community. There were 47 total applicants for the position. An outside consultant reviewed applications and submitted 25 to the Presidential Search Screening Committee, which was chaired by Mac Sherrill, vice chair of the Board of Trustees, and included two other board members, two Randolph employees, three community members, and one student. Through a review of written application materials and candidate videos, the committee narrowed the search to six finalists. In September, the Board of Trustees invited the six finalists to the Randolph campus for public receptions and personal interviews. The Board of Trustees then decided on the three finalists they would submit to the State Board of Community Colleges for assessment at their October meeting.

Shackleford formerly served as dean of student services at Randolph Community College from 2000-2003 before taking his current position at Rockingham. He first joined Randolph in 1998 as the program head for the Early Childhood Associate curriculum and eventually became chair of the Human Services department. He also taught early childhood education, human development, family studies, sociology, human relations and leadership development at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, High Point University, and Gardner-Webb University.

Shackleford earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the School of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Mo. He completed his master’s degree in child development and family studies and a doctorate in human development and family studies at UNCG. He also holds a master of divinity degree in biblical studies and pastoral care from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C.

A member of the U.S. Army Reserves from 1985-1992, Shackleford served as battalion chaplain and assistant division chaplain. He has been a member of the North Carolina Air National Guard since 1992, serving as staff chaplain until 1997. He is currently serving as wing chaplain (senior supervisory chaplain) for the 145th Airlift Wing, but he plans to retire from that role within the coming year.

Shackleford has been active in leadership roles for the United Way of Rockingham County and the Rockingham County Partnership for Children. He is a member of the Madison-Mayodan Rotary Club, the Rockingham County Mental Health Board, the Piedmont Triad Education Consortium, and is a 2004 graduate of Leadership Rockingham. He has been a frequent speaker at local civic clubs, schools and churches, and a regular presenter at professional workshops and conferences. In Randolph County, he was a member of the Cooperative Extension Advisory Committee, the Business & Education Committee of the Asheboro/Randolph County Chamber of Commerce, the JobLink Career Center Management Team, the Job Service Employer Committee of the Employment Security Commission, the Randolph County Partnership for Children, and the Continuous Improvement Monitoring System Steering Committee of the Randolph County Board of Education. He graduated from Leadership Randolph in 2000.He attended the Future Presidents Institute in 2005, winning the Herring Fellowship, a scholarship awarded by the North Carolina Community College System Foundation. He is a member of the advisory board for the North Carolina Network for Excellence in Teaching. He is a past member of the NCCCS Staff Person of the Year Selection Committee, the Student Development Administrators Association, and the Student Development Personnel Association.

Shackleford and his wife, Teresa, live in Greensboro. He has three children and one granddaughter.

Photo courtesy of The Courier-Tribune