Finalists Listing
Presidential Finalist Interviews
March 29-April 1, 2021
Alvin Community College will conduct interviews with three presidential finalists on March 29, 30 and April 1.
Dr. Robert Exley, Dr. Jeffrey Jochems, and Dr. Cynthia Griffith were named as the finalists to serve as ACC’s seventh president.
The candidates were selected by the Presidential Search Committee consisting of regents, faculty, staff, students and community members. A lone finalist will be chosen following the interviews.
The finalist will take the place of President Dr. Christal M. Albrecht who will be retiring in August.
Meet the Finalists
Monday, March 29 – Dr. Robert Exley
Dr. Robert Exley served as the 17th President of Snead State Community College in Boaz, Ala., from January 2008 through August 2020. During his nearly 13-year tenure in Alabama, Dr. Exley focused on providing a compassionate campus experience for students and staff with an emphasis on academic excellence and civic engagement. His own higher education experience began at the community college level and has provided a foundation for his passion to encourage well-rounded citizens through comprehensive higher education opportunities. Prior to his time in Alabama, he served as President of Parkland College in Champaign, Ill., and as the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He also held a number of administrative positions with Miami-Dade College (MDC) over a nearly 10-year period.
Dr. Exley received his Associate of Arts degree from San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas, his BA and MS from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and his Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin. In May 2007, Dr. Exley was named a Distinguished Graduate of the University of Texas at Austin's Community College Leadership Program in recognition of his national contribution to American Community Colleges. While a student at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, TX., he served as the 1979-1980 National President of Phi Theta Kappa. In January 2014, Phi Theta Kappa honored Dr. Exley with the prestigious Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction.
Dr. Exley values workforce development and community partnerships. He is a member of Leadership Alabama Class XXVII. In August 2017, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey appointed Dr. Exley to the North Alabama Works! Area Local Workforce Development Board. He served as co-chair of the Vision Marshall Steering Committee and on the Valley Innovation Alliance Leadership Committee. Until his retirement from Snead State, he was actively engaged with the Marshall County Economic Development Council, the Marshall County Manufacturers Association, and the Boaz Rotary Club.
Dr. Exley is married to Anita Cross Exley, a fellow community college graduate. They have two adult children – Will Exley and Heather Feimster and two grandsons who keep them young – Luke Feimster (8 years old) and Andrew Feimster (5 years old).
Tuesday, March 30 – Dr. Jeffrey Jochems
Dr. Jeff Jochems served Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) as President/Vice Chancellor of the Richwood Valley Campus (RVC) for nine years and in many other administrative positions at OTC for over 29 years. As Campus President, he recently led the effort to relocate the Agriculture Program to RVC including two new buildings and enhancing the program with the first ever live animals on campus. Under his leadership, the campus has consolidated the library, testing, tutoring, disability services, and the open computer lab into one multi-functioning location.
Dr. Jochems’ previous positions include seven years as the Director of Financial Aid when the college was first established with the arduous task of obtaining OTC’s federal financial aid eligibility. During his tenure at OTC, Dr. Jochems served three years as Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, five years as Dean of Student Development, one year as Dean of Student Affairs at the Richwood Valley Campus, three years as the Assistant Vice President of Administrative Services, and served as the interim President of the newly opened OTC – Table Rock Campus. In addition to his many administrative roles, Dr. Jochems has been an adjunct faculty member of Lindenwood University’s higher education doctoral program teaching Business Management. He has also taught Business Leadership classes online for OTC.
Dr. Jochems maintained strong ties to the community and enhanced the college’s partnerships with community organizations and nonprofits. He has served on numerous boards, including Ozark, MO Chamber of Commerce, Nixa, MO Chamber of Commerce, and Educational Community Credit Union. He served as an initial investor in the formation of Show Me Christian County – the county’s newly formed economic development organization. Dr. Jochems has also served on numerous local high school committees and is a member of the Ozark Rotary.
Dr. Jochems holds an associate degree in business from Pratt Community College, a bachelor’s degree in management from Washburn University, a master’s degree in higher education student personnel from the University of Kansas, and an Ed.D. in higher education leadership from the University of Arkansas. He has been married for 32 years with three grown children, enjoys sports of all kinds and is an avid golfer.
Thursday, April 1 – Dr. Cynthia Griffith
Dr. Cynthia (Cindy) Ford Griffith, a lifelong Texan and first-generation community college graduate, currently serves as the Vice President of Instruction for Alvin Community College. She has over three decades of experience in higher education administration and instruction in Texas community colleges. Prior to her work with Alvin, she served as a Vice President with Blinn College and as Dean of Public Service, Health, and Behavioral Sciences with Lone Star College–CyFair. Dr. Griffith also served as the founding Dean of Workforce and Community Education for Northeast Lakeview College in San Antonio and as the Program Director for Radiologic Technology programs at Lone Star College-Montgomery and Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas. She was a tenured faculty member with Angelina College for nineteen years and serves as adjunct faculty for Alvin Community College, teaching the first-year experience class, and University of Houston-Clear Lake, teaching Higher Education Administration in the doctoral program.
Dr. Griffith received a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership with a specialization in Community College Executive Leadership from Sam Houston State University. She also holds a Master’s degree in Secondary Education from Stephen F. Austin State University, Bachelor of Science degree from Midwestern State University, and an Associate of Applied Science degree from Angelina College.
Since 2015, Dr. Griffith has served as Alvin Community College’s institutional liaison to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Additionally, she serves as a member of the THECB Workforce Education Leadership Committee and the Texas Association of Chief Academic Officers. Dr. Griffith is currently a peer evaluator of on-site and off-site evaluation committees for SACSCOC and previously served as a chair and team member of a national programmatic accreditor. Locally, she serves on the Memorial Hermann Community Advisory Board, the College of Health Care Professions Advisory Committee for Radiologic Technology, and has been active in multiple chambers of commerce and civic organizations. Griffith is also a member of the Registry for College and University Presidents and was selected by the American Association of Community Colleges to participate in its 2019 Future Presidents Institute.
Throughout her career as an educator, Dr. Griffith has remained passionate about expanding access to prospective students and fostering a positive, friendly culture where all campus employees are attentive and responsive to students’ needs, focused on their success, and committed to delivery of the best educational experiences possible. In addition to her passion for education, she enjoys traveling with her husband, George, and spending time with their children and grandchildren.