The board of trustees at Flathead Valley Community College has appointed its first new president in over 25 years, a decision sparking transparency concerns among faculty. Deborah Kish Stephan, currently leading the Brandon Campus of Hillsborough College in Florida, has been advanced for the presidential role, pending contract review. A college spokesperson stated the selection process incorporated input from community groups, staff, and students who participated. “Hiring a president is one of the board’s most important responsibilities, and trustees considered a wide range of input in making this decision,” said spokesperson Julie Brempelis.
Flathead Valley Community College, part of the Montana University System but governed locally, enrolled 2,117 students last fall. The search for a new president began after Jane Karas announced her retirement for 2026, concluding her 25-year service. Chairperson Callie Langohr mentioned the search adhered to guidelines set by trustees and ACCT Searches, leading to four finalists.
However, Conrad Rauscher, faculty union vice president, criticized the process for not reflecting faculty rankings, noting that Andrew Fields was the faculty’s preferred choice. “A lot of people felt like he was a bit more of a fit academically, culturally and also with the trades,” Rauscher said. He also pointed to the lack of diverse feedback, as all groups received the same QR code for input, leading to feelings of disenfranchisement.
Rauscher stressed that the major issue was limited receptiveness to feedback from the trustees’ side. He claimed that the process allowed President Karas undue influence, as she engaged with finalists and discussed privately with trustees. Despite this, Langohr clarified that Karas did not lead the search, and the board alone decided on Stephan. There was also a discrepancy in the reported unanimity of the board’s decision, as only one of two votes was unanimous, a fact verified by Brempelis.
The pending contract for Stephan includes a $250,000 salary, a $60,000 annual housing bonus, and a $12,000 yearly vehicle bonus, with the contract extending over 3.5 years. Flathead Valley’s high housing costs highlight the significance of these bonuses, given the median household income of $73,925, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Langohr praised Stephan for her extensive community college experience, emphasizing her skills in workforce program development, learning environment enhancement, resource acquisition, and student support. “The board was impressed by her breadth of leadership experience and her emphasis on listening, collaboration, transparency, shared governance and student success,” Langohr stated.
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