VCCS Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2010
News Release Highlights:
- Dr. James Scott Hamilton is selected to become the sixth president of Mountain Empire Community College as of July 1.
- Hamilton is dean of instruction at Eastern Idaho Technical College in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Idaho educator selected as president at Mountain Empire Community College
RICHMOND – Dr. James Scott Hamilton, of Idaho Falls, will become the next president of Mountain Empire Community College (MECC), according to Dr. Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges.
Hamilton, who has been dean of instruction and chief academic officer at Eastern Idaho Technical College for the past seven years, will become Mountain Empire’s president effective July 1, 2010.
“We are delighted that Dr. Hamilton is coming on board to lead an excellent community college,” DuBois said in making the appointment today. “Dr. Hamilton has a solid list of accomplishments, the right experiences and we think he is a great fit for Mountain Empire Community College.”
“On behalf of the college board, we’ve been extremely impressed with the thoroughness of the entire presidential appointment process,” said Dan Roop, chairman of the college board for Mountain Empire. “All stakeholders had input. We were very pleased with the final candidates, and after full consideration, we feel like Dr. Hamilton is just the ideal fit for our college and community.”
Prior to his Idaho post, Hamilton was associate dean for business and applied technology at John A. Logan College in Carterville, Illinois and was dean of instruction for technology at Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg, Illinois. He began his career in industrial and employee relations at Consolidation Coal Company in Illinois, and also worked in vocational instruction in Illinois high school systems.
“I am excited and honored to serve as the next president of Mountain Empire Community College,” said Hamilton. “The college has a long history of providing excellent programs and services to its community. I look forward to working with the Mountain Empire Community College team to continue that tradition of excellence.”
Hamilton holds a doctorate in education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, a master’s of science from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and a bachelor’s of science from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.
He will become the sixth president of Mountain Empire Community College, following Dr. Terrence Suarez, who is retiring as of June 30. “Dr. Suarez has been an important part of our community,” Roop said. “But we are also excited about the future.”
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About Virginia’s Community Colleges: Created more than 40 years ago, Virginia’s Community Colleges are 23 individual schools located on 40 campuses across the Commonwealth. Nearly half a million students take classes at one of Virginia’s Community Colleges. Together the colleges enroll more than two-thirds of the total public undergraduate population in Virginia. For more information, please visit myfuture.vccs.edu.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jeffrey Kraus
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Relations
(804) 819-4949
jkraus@vccs.edu
Contact MECC 
