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Larson has been strong leader for Pierpont

From the Times West Virginian of Fairmont:

The mission of Pierpont Community & Technical College “is to provide opportunities for learning, training and further education that enrich the lives of individuals and promote the economic growth of our service region and state.”

That objective has certainly been a high priority for President Dr. Doreen Larson, who announced last week that she is leaving the school to assume the same position at Edison Community College in Piqua, Ohio.

We salute Larson for her work at Pierpont and wish her well in her new position, where she will start work July 1.

Larson, Pierpont’s second president, is proud of her accomplishments, made through working as a team with her colleagues.

“I think we’ve really laid down a foundation for what Pierpont can do, and got the word out, especially to employers, about what we’re capable of doing,” she said. “There are great things ahead for the college, and I’m really proud of being a part of really launching who Pierpont is and what we can do for this area of West Virginia.

“I don’t think people really understood what a community college could do and what’s different from a university, and I think they really understand that now.”

In fact, Larson believes her involvement in the community and her success in partnering with industry were key factors in getting the new job, which will enable her to move closer to her family and return home.

The region of Ohio where Edison is located is emerging with new industry, notably from Whirlpool and Fram Filters, and Edison is looking to build its relationships with these industries. Larson expressed that during her time at Pierpont, she and the faculty did an exceptional job working with industry, notably through their petroleum technology program and the Advanced Technology Center set to open in the fall.

“They’re looking for a better relationship with workforce,” Larson explained. “There’s a lot of new manufacturing companies coming into that part of Ohio.

“I had some nice success doing workforce partnerships at Pierpont, so that seemed like a very good fit for me there.”

Pierpont Board of Governors President James Griffin praised Larson’s work.

“We really appreciate the contributions that she has made here,” Griffin said. “She was our second president, and she did an outstanding job when she was here. We wish her the best of luck at her new job.”

Now it’s time for Pierpont to move forward and build on the success attained under Larson’s leadership. The process will officially begin Tuesday at the board of governors meeting.

“Right now we haven’t done anything, but at the board meeting I’m sure that we will start putting together the process of replacing Dr. Larson,” Griffin said. “The board did meet, and we talked about some things that we might do.”

The board will decide whether an interim president will be named during the search.

We’re confident a strong choice will be made to ensure Pierpont builds on its excellent work of providing training the region’s businesses need to fill their workforce in the ever-changing economic climate.

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