Published: May 22, 2007 08:33 pm      

Area native takes helm at SwVCC

RICHLANDS, Va. — Dr. J. Mark Estepp has long admired one of Southwest Virginia’s best kept secrets.

“All of Southwest Virginia is a hidden jewel,” Estepp, the newly selected president of Southwest Virginia Community College in Richlands, said. “This whole area is a hidden gem. We are just happy to be here.”

For more than 20 years, Estepp traveled past SwVCC in Richlands while visiting his family in the Matewan community in neighboring West Virginia. Estepp, who currently serves as the dean of the college of fine and applied arts at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., hopes to be on campus in Richlands as early as July as the new college president.

Estepp will be the second president of SwVCC, Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges, said. Estepp will succeed Dr. Charles King as the first president and founder of SwVCC in Tazewell County.

“You talk about a tough act to follow,” Estepp said of King. “He and I have been on the phone several times. I’m looking forward to a great working relationship with him as well as with the current interim president Dr. Snyder.”

Estepp said the fact that King served as the founder and only president of SwVCC for more than 40 years is a “true testament to his service.”

Estepp said his first few months on the job at SwVCC will involve listening.

“The most important thing for me to during the first few months is to listen to people,” Estepp said. “I need to learn the lay of the land here, figure out the culture and listen to people. The main thing for me and Trish to do is to go on listening tours — listening to the faculty, staff and community to see what we are doing right and doing well.”

Estepp has worked as the dean of the college of fine and applied arts at Appalachian State University since 2003.

Dr. William Synder, the retired president of Wytheville Community College, will continue to serve as interim president of SwVCC until Estepp arrives later this summer.

“Mark is a highly capable professional with an impressive track record who is in love with rural Southwest Virginia,” DuBois said in a news release. “I’m confident he will do a great job.”

“After conducting a national search to replace our founding president, the board at Southwest is delighted with the appointment of Dr. Estepp,” Frances Minton, who chairs the college board, added. “He brings to the table all the ingredients we were looking for in a new leader.”

Estepp served as interim dean of Appalachian State University in 2002 and 2003, and chaired the college’s department of technology from 1991 to 2002. He joined Appalachian State University as an assistant professor of industrial education and technology in 1984.

Estepp has a doctorate in practical arts and vocational technical education from the University of Missouri; a master’s degree in industrial arts education from Murray State University in Murray, Ky.; and a bachelor’s degree from Berea College in Kentucky.

The president search was launched in January following King’s retirement after more than 40 years of service as the founding president of SwVCC.

– Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com