New president named for County College of Morris

  RANDOLPH - The board of trustees of the County College of Morris has voted to hire Anthony J. Iacono, vice president of academic affairs at Indian River State College in Florida, to succeed  Edward J. Yaw as president of the institution, making him the college's third president since its doors opened in 1968.

Four candidates had emerged as finalists for a presidential contract out of a pool of about 50 applicants from around the country, and the trustees at their monthly meeting Wednesday night ended a seven month search by passing a resolution to give Iacono a three-year contract at  $212,000 annually.  Ten trustees out of 11 were present for the meeting, and all 10 voted in favor of Iacono.

Trustee Joseph Weisberg called the search, headed by trustee Jeffrey Advokat and broadened to include a student representative and members of the staff and teachers unions, "a most extensive and professional" search.

Iacono will join CCM as presidential nominee on Aug. 15 and will be named president on Sept. 1 after Yaw retires  at the end of August as the college's second president. Yaw, a prominent leader involved in a multitude of community and educational activities, has been president for 30 years. The trustees voted to give Iacono a  contract through August 2019.

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Trustees praised the  search committee's thoroughness and the information and background work done in finding a new leader for the institution. The committee whittled the pool of candidates down to a final four, who were given separate days between Jan. 28 and the second week of February to tour the campus and meet with instructors and students.

"This was a big process, probably the most important undertaking this board will face," said board President  Joseph Ricca. "And I think we endeavored to really make sure this was a community effort, that we involved all stakeholders in the process, and we listened to all voices."

Iacono, who Ricca said was thrilled to hear the news of his appointment, earned his doctoral degree in American history from Mississippi State University in 2000.  As vice president of academic affairs for Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Florida, from 2011 to the present, Iacono was responsible for all functions within the academic division and oversaw 45 percent of the $84 million college budget, according to his resume.

Iacono supervised a team of five deans, eight program directors, 11 faculty department chairs, 126 full-time instructional faculty, 31 support staff members and coordinates more than 800 adjunct faculty members.

"My leadership style involves a transparent and collaborative approach that is based upon the development and implementation of a shared vision, cultivating an open and creative work environment, developing individuals and teams, and supporting an intensive focus on student success," according to a resume statement.

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   "I am deeply honored to have been selected as the next president of County College of Morris, and I greatly appreciate the confidence that the search committee and the board of trustees have entrusted in me," said Iacono in a statement.

"CCM is an exceptional institution that has achieved significant success since its creation in 1968. For more than 30 years, it has benefited enormously from the vision and leadership of Dr. Edward Yaw, its board of  trustees, its administrative team, talented faculty and staff, as well as members of the community who have dedicated themselves to creating a college that has changed countless lives.  As an individual who is passionate about helping people improve their future through education, strengthening communities through partnerships, economic growth and cultural enrichment and pioneering innovative approaches to learning, I look forward to leading CCM and working with a talented team of people who share that passion," Iacono said.

The board of trustees last fall hired the executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to help it create a profile of expectations in a new president and recruit applicants.  Advokat has said that Isaacson, Miller "vetted" the applicants, and the search committee met with  seven semi-finalists. From there, the list of candidates was pared down to four finalists.

As of the fall semester, CCM enrolled 8,026 students in credit courses, including 3,946 full-time and 4,080 part-time students. The college employs more than 880 faculty and staff and has an annual budget of about $55 million.

 Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@GannettNJ.com.