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TCC president retires amid declining enrollment, interim president announced

Posted at 11:33 AM, May 14, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-22 12:45:59-04

NORFOLK, Va. - The president of Tidewater Community College has announced her retirement after six years of leading TCC.

Dr. Edna V. Baehre-Kolovani (Photo courtesy - TCC)

President Dr. Edna V. Baehre-Kolovani will retire as TCC's fifth president on July 1st. She's served in the position since 2012.

Dr. Kolovani lead in the development of, “One College, One Voice, One Future,” in 2013, which focuses the college on key areas of workforce development, academic excellence, student success, efficient use of resources and philanthropic growth.

In a message to the campus, Dr. Kolovani wrote "I have been blessed by being surrounded by incredibly talented and dedicated staff and faculty. I also want to thank the many business and community leaders who worked together to shape our curriculum and strategic direction.”

Glenn DuBois, Chancellor of Virginia's Community Colleges, congratulated Dr. Kolovani on a "well earned retirement."

An  interim president for TCC will be announced soon and then a national search for the next permanent president will take place.

This announcement comes after an email sent to TCC employees in March said because of a $4 - 6 million budget deficit, TCC would be making necessary layoffs in the departments of English, English Fundamentals and Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Dr. Gregory T. DeCinque

Enrollment at TCC has declined by 30% since 2012.

DuBois also said the college is still focused on projects at place and that although declining enrollment at TCC is challenging, he is confident that it will be turned around.

On May 22 DuBois announced Dr. Gregory T. DeCinque will be the interim president to lead TCC. He starts at the beginning of July.

DeCinque has presided over three different community colleges throughout his 44-year career in higher education.

He was the acting president of Tunxis Community-Technical College for more than a year beginning in August 1992. He spent nearly 20 years as the president of Jamestown Community College before retiring in August 2013. In addition, he served for nearly two years as the interim president of Cayuga Community College through the summer of 2015.