Mat-Su College director named

MAT-SU -- After five months of sifting through applicants, Mat-Su College's search committee has completed its task -- a new director has been chosen.

Paul R. Dauphinais, Ph. D., will take the helm as Mat-Su College's director in mid-July. Dauphinais has a broad background in college administration, and hails most recently from York County Technical College in Wells, part of the Maine Technical College System.

Dauphinais said he considers the move to Mat-Su a step up.

"I was looking to become part of a well-respected institution," Dauphinais said, "and the University of Alaska is certainly one. It also fits my skill set very well."

As president of York County Technical, Dauphinais said he was responsible for all college administrative, academic, fiscal, and student-related matters. He also served as campus dean and interim president at Mid-Plains Community College in McCook, Neb. He was vice provost for student affairs, and director of admissions, financial aid and registrar at Oklahoma State University prior to that. Student services, he said, is one of his strong points.

"I am very student-oriented," Dauphinais said. "We're there to serve students. We're there to provide a challenging and safe … learning environment."

Rebecca Evans, a member of the 7-person search committee that reviewed the pool of director applicants said Dauphinais seemed to be the best fit for the college.

"He has a lot of experience on the same two- to four-year college level," Evans said. "He's a Ph. D., has been in the academic environment for 10 to 15 years and he'll be coming from the same type of position. He was very well-rounded in his qualifications."

The committee, Evans said, published the job opening in January, then narrowed the applicant pool down to four in April. Each of the four candidates visited the Mat-Su campus and participated in a more intensive interview process. In addition, Evans said, both informal and formal background research was conducted. And high praise from UAA Chancellor Lee Gorsuch seems to indicate Dauphinais passed.

"Dr. Dauphinais is a welcome addition to the UAA administrative team," said UAA Chancellor Lee Gorsuch in a recent press release issued by the University. "His extensive community college and university experience, his teaching experience and his extensive training and knowledge of computer systems brings strength to the diverse needs of our 1,700 Mat-Su College students."

Dauphinais, through his work at various university positions, learned the ins and outs of computer systems. He also holds a master's degree in Information Systems from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., in addition to his B.A. in English from Bridgewater State College, Mass. and a doctorate in American History and Canadian History from the University of Maine. He retired as a commander from the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1999, following 10 years of active duty in the U.S. Navy and 11 years in the reserves.

Dauphinais said he is looking forward to becoming a part of Mat-Su College -- and the Mat-Su community. Fishing, photography and gardening are three passions he is looking forward to delving into in Alaska. But perhaps most of all, he said, he's looking forward to becoming an integral part of Mat-Su College.

"I was very impressed with the people I met there," Dauphinais said. "They were very nice and very forthright with me. The feeling that I got is that, as a group, they're just poised to go on and do great things."