Stan Jensen Picked for Henry Ford Community College President

The Dearborn Board of Education selected the next president of Henry Ford Community College during a special meeting on Wednesday.

According to the Arab American News, the board voted 5-1 to select Stan Jensen as the preferred candidate for the position out of a pool of five finalists.

The board will now move forward with contract negotiations with Jensen, according to board President Pamela Adams.

"We're contacting Mr. Jensen (Thursday) to see if he's still interested in the job," she said. "We will talk to him about how soon he can get to Michigan and discuss the terms of a contract."

Jensen has served for almost five yeas as president and CEO of Colorado Mountain College. The college is ranked 17th in the nation for student success, as measured by graduation rates and transfer rates.

As an administrator, Jensen had focused on strategic planning for college growth, program development, resource development, adopting strategic technology and leadership.

Adams said she was personally pleased with the board's decision to pick Jensen, who will replace outgoing president Dr. Gail Mee.

"I was impressed with his broad background," Adams said. "For me he was the candidate that had a vision of what Henry Ford Community College should be, and I think he can take the college to the next level."

HFCC currently faces a financial deficit and is expected to raise its tuition rates by more than 7 percent during the 2013-2014 school year.

"The board wanted a candidate who could look at all the college's programs broadly and determine how to best move forward for the future of HFCC," Adams said.

Candidate Gordon May, interim president of the Oakland Community College Auburn Hills Campus, is the board's second choice if negotiations with Jensen fall through.

Adams said once a contract is finalized with Jensen, the board will schedule forums for the public to meet the new president and talk about their concerns for HFCC.