VCCS Chancellor and Other NOVA Search Updates

March 22, 2022 / Tuesday Topics

Today’s topic is search updates, including information about the appointment of the next VCCS Chancellor.

VCCS Chancellor
The VCCS Board has selected Russell A. Kavalhuna, J.D., to serve as the next system chancellor.

Chancellor-elect Kavalhuna has served as the president of Henry Ford College (Mich.) since 2018 and was a member of the inaugural Aspen Institute Community College Excellence New President Fellows program. You can read his full bio here.

The chancellor-elect previously served as executive director of flight operations at the Western Michigan University College of Aviation, as an assistant U.S. attorney in Michigan and as a commercial airline captain. He holds a bachelor’s in aviation flight science and a Juris Doctorate from Western Michigan University. He was an advisor to the transition team of Michigan Governor Gretchen Wittmer and serves on Michigan’s Workforce Development Board, Aeronautics Commission and Council for Rehabilitation Services.

I know you join me in congratulating and welcoming Chancellor-elect Kavalhuna, who will begin his role this summer.

Annandale Provost
The search committee, chaired by Loudoun Provost Julie Leidig, continues its work with a goal of naming three to four finalists by mid-April. These finalists will then visit the Annandale Campus before the month’s end to meet with students, faculty and staff, and hold open forums. My goal is to name the new provost before the end of spring semester.

Chief of Staff
The President’s Chief of Staff position will be posted this week with a goal of filling this role by the end of spring semester. The search committee is chaired by Manassas Provost Molly Lynch and includes the following:

  • Ed Aymar (Communications Coordinator, DEI)
  • Marcus Henderson (Campus and Community Relations Specialist, Alexandria Campus)
  • Jack Lechelt (Professor, Political Science, Loudoun Campus
  • Shelly Ryan (Associate Director, College Computing)
  • Charlene Wilkins (Campus and Community Relations Specialist, Woodbridge Campus)
  • Sharon Tindall (AN Exec. Asst., Search Advocate)

I am grateful to Associate Director for Federal Relations, Tykesha Myrick, who has been doing double-duty this academic year by also serving with distinction as acting-chief of staff.