IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The Eastern Idaho College Board of Trustees has selected three finalists for the position of new president, one of whom will replace retiring President Rick Ammann in July.
The finalists are Josh Baker, Lori Barber and Mark Browning. Their bios can be found below.
The Board will hold a public forum for each candidate the week of June 17: Josh Baker on June 17, Lori Barber on June 18 and Mark Browning on June 19. The forums will feature brief introductions of the candidates followed by a question and answer session. The forums will be held from 10-11 a.m. each day in Rooms 150/152 of the Health Education Building (Building 6).
President Ammann has served as CEI's president since its founding in 2016. Since then, the community college has achieved milestones such as early accreditation by the Northwestern Commission on Colleges and Universities. CEI has also expanded into in-demand technology fields such as nursing and cybersecurity.
Finalists:
Dr. Josh Baker He is the president of Mountwest Community and Technical College in West Virginia. He previously served as vice president for instruction at Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado. He holds a PhD in Community College Leadership from Oregon State University, a Master of Science in Exercise Science from Brigham Young University and a Bachelor of Arts in History Education from Brigham Young University.
Lori Barber, Ed.D. Dr. Barber is the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at Eastern Idaho College. Previously, she served as the Dean of General Education at Eastern Idaho College. Dr. Barber holds a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation from Arizona State University, a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in History and Anthropology from Idaho State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Idaho State University.
Mark Browning, Ed.D., Dr. McConnell is president of Blue Mountain Community College in Oregon. He previously served as vice president for university relations at Western Idaho College. He holds a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership from Idaho State University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Idaho, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Idaho State University.
