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The Board of Trustees of Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) invites nominations and applications for the position of President. The board seeks a president with a deep commitment to student success who will honor the unique culture, traditions and history of FVCC and lead the college to its next level of success.
Mission
Flathead Valley Community College has been the educational and cultural heart of Northwest Montana for more than 55 years. Rooted in a community that stretches from the shores of Flathead Lake to the peaks of Glacier National Park, FVCC's mission is straightforward: promote excellence in lifelong learning focused on student success and community needs. That mission has guided the college since voters established it in 1967. The college is governed by a locally elected Board of Trustees, providing significant operational autonomy and local decision-making authority.
Place
FVCC serves residents of Flathead and Lincoln Counties through its main campus in Kalispell and a campus in Libby. The college's service area spans more than 8,700 square miles, larger than the state of Connecticut. Nestled between mountain ranges and anchored by Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River, the Flathead Valley is home to over 100,000 residents. The city of Kalispell, with a population of 31,000, is known for its exceptional quality of life. The area draws those with a love of the outdoors, offering world-class hiking, biking and snow sports in the shadow of Glacier National Park. Cultural life is equally rich, with a vibrant arts community, summer farmers markets and events like Arts in the Park and Under the Big Sky Music Festival.
Students and Programs
The largest community college in Montana, FVCC enrolls more than 3,000 students. Approximately 60% of students pursue transfer programs and the remaining 40% are enrolled in career and technical education. The college has strong offerings including STEM, liberal arts, nursing, health sciences, the Honors program, culinary arts and the FVCC Trades Institute. The college's dual enrollment program, which serves eligible high school juniors and seniors across Northwest Montana, is experiencing the highest enrollment numbers in its history. The college has received several national recognitions such as being designated an ATD Leader College, the 2026 ACRL Excellence in Academics Library award and has nationally-recognized faculty.
The college champions lifelong learning through robust year-round continuing education offerings, including Kids College and the Senior Institute, as well as free community lectures. The FVCC Foundation provides more than $1 million in scholarships annually, as well as support for specific program initiatives and faculty innovation.
Campus and Community Involvement
FVCC has experienced substantial campus growth in recent years, driven by strong private philanthropy that has funded new facilities, allowing for the expansion of academic programs, student services and community access. Major capital projects have enhanced the college's capacity to serve the region. Recent additions include a nursing and health sciences building, on-campus student housing and a library designed to be a modern hub for learning and collaboration for students and the community. The Paul D. Wachholz College Center opened in 2022 as Northwest Montana's premier performing arts venue. Its 1,000- seat McClaren Hall has welcomed world-class artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Branford Marsalis, Anne Lamott and Clint Black. More recently, the Wachholz Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center opened, providing resources and guidance to help entrepreneurs start, scale and sustain ventures throughout the region.
Budget
The next president inherits an institution in excellent health: financially stable, deeply connected to its community and widely respected across the region. FVCC's annual operating budget is $25 million with 47% from state appropriations, 28% from local appropriations and 25% from tuition/fees/other sources.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

• Maintain the nationally recognized culture, traditions and reputation of FVCC while expanding capacity for future opportunities. Collaborate with faculty, staff and the community to prepare for changes in higher education, the workplace and the economy.
• Continue a culture where students feel a sense of belonging and develop confidence in their ability to succeed. Foster a sense of unity through campus communication and collaboration built on trust, transparency and belonging. Inspire faculty, staff, students and stakeholders to work together to address the college's and community's challenges and opportunities.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to strengthen strategic enrollment management, expand student access, and increase instructional programs and delivery systems. Identify and serve new student populations through targeted outreach, innovative programs, technology and partnerships.
• Develop innovative programs and delivery options that respond to changes in technology, higher education and the economy. This includes online learning, stackable credentials, non-credit to degree pathways, competency-based education and work-based learning credentials that align with workforce needs.
• Continue to position FVCC as a catalyst for partnerships with community organizations, business and industry, education and elected officials to meet the region's educational and workforce needs. Develop an in-depth understanding of and foster relationships with communities throughout FVCC's service area.
• Continue collaboration and identify opportunities with the Lincoln County campus by building on the unique characteristics of the community, including demographics, industries, economic challenges and attributes.
• Strengthen the college's role as an educational institution and trusted community partner through transparent communication, shared governance and visibility, and following through on commitments.
• Articulate and build support for the unique challenges and opportunities of a rural community college.
• Actively engage with federal legislators, state legislators and officials to advocate for funding models that support the college's long-term sustainability, while collaborating with peer community colleges and the Montana University System to share strategies and strengthen the broader community college ecosystem.

IDEAL CHARACTERISTICS
FVCC seeks a president who is an effective communicator, listener and advocate for the college and its students. The new leader will foster strong alliances in the community by strengthening instructional programs and services.
The next president of FVCC will be visible and accessible, both on campus and throughout the community. The president is expected to be relentless in the pursuit of excellence and for the success of the institution and the community.
Preferred Characteristics
Leadership Skills

• A student-focused leader who communicates FVCC's vision and creates a foundation of trust, transparency and shared purpose to achieve that vision. A leader who fosters a culture where faculty, staff and the broader community feel heard, valued and included in the decision-making process.
• A courageous leader who models empathy, fosters collaboration and actively listens while addressing challenging situations and making difficult decisions with grace and dignity.
• A leader who values faculty and staffs' expertise and contributions, models values-based decision making and has a record of recruiting and retaining well-qualified employees. A leader who has a record of success fostering a shared governance culture where employees are empowered to work together to achieve college goals.
• A passionate advocate and effective spokesperson for FVCC, communicating the value of higher education and FVCC's position as a college of choice by increasing local, regional and global outreach.
• A strategic, results-oriented leader who recognizes and creates opportunities. A leader who has a record of setting measurable goals, assessing progress and using data to make informed decisions that benefit students.

Student Advocacy and Academic Excellence

• An advocate who makes student success the focus of all decisions and provides leadership and personal encouragement to students.
• A creative, strategic leader who successfully connects the curriculum with the attributes of the community.
• A leader who nurtures relationships and focuses on the heart of the institution-its students. An administrator who understands the complex dynamics of a community college.
• A leader who utilizes technology, including AI, to support student success, increase the effectiveness and efficiency of campus operations and better meet community needs.

Governance and Organization

• An educator who can effectively collaborate and navigate the accreditation process.
• A leader who fosters shared governance.
• A fiscally astute leader who implements a sustainable funding model and transparent budget process that supports the college's strategic plan and aligns budget decisions with the institutional mission and priorities.
• A leader who has a record of successful work with an elected board of trustees and collective bargaining units.

Community Relations

• A community-minded leader who values the roles, dynamics and contributions of all sectors in rural communities. Someone who will be immersed in the community to engage businesses, industries, school districts, non-profit organizations and state/federal agencies, creating mutually beneficial partnerships that advance the interests of the college.
• A leader who has a record of creating and sustaining partnerships that prepare students for successful careers and provide employers with access to a well-trained workforce.
• An articulate communicator and effective advocate for the college regionally, statewide and nationally, who increases the college's visibility and support through a demonstrated ability to communicate with legislators, the community and donors.
• A leader who maximizes the efforts of the FVCC Foundation, continuing fundraising success that includes meeting with donors, attending events and advocating for college needs.
• A collaborator with demonstrated success creating partnerships with K-12, universities and industries to increase opportunities for all students.
• A leader who embraces the independent culture of Montana.

Minimum Qualifications

• An earned master's degree or an earned doctorate from a regionally accredited institution.
• Record of community service and involvement.
• Five years of senior-level administrative experience with significant and progressively complex decision-making responsibility, with at least three years of executive-level experience reporting directly to a governing body or chief executive officer. Responsibilities include a broad operational segment of the organization with significant fiscal and programmatic oversight including but not limited to academic affairs, student services, human resources/labor relations or administrative/ fiscal services.

Preferred Qualifications

• An earned doctorate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Experience working at a community college.
• Classroom teaching and/or student services experience in a higher education institution.
• Experience in and/or demonstrated knowledge of the role of the community college in economic and workforce development.
• Experience managing a multi-million dollar budget in higher education.
• Experience in donor relations and fundraising