MEDIA CONTACT:
Susan Pollard
Asst. Vice Chancellor for
Strategic Communications
spollard@vccs.edu
4.23.25
(RICHMOND) – The State Board for Community Colleges has certified three finalists for the position of president at Danville Community College (DCC). They were among 79 applicants from across the nation who were considered for the post.
The finalists, in alphabetical order, are Dr. Cornelius Johnson of Danville, Va., Dr. Rushton Johnson, Jr. of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Dr. Morgan Phillips of Tucson, Arizona.
“Danville Community College plays a pivotal role in supporting the people and economy of its region, and I am confident that this group of finalists will yield a president who will lead the college successfully in its next era of service,” said Dr. David Doré, Chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges.
The finalists seek to become the eighth permanent president at Danville Community College. Arrangements are being made for each of the finalists to visit the college soon to meet with faculty, staff, students and community members.
Cornelius Johnson
Dr. Connelius Johnson has served as Interim President at Danville Community College since December 1, 2024, providing leadership after the departure of Dr. Jerry Wallace. Prior to that, Dr. Johnson served as VP of Academic Affairs and Student Services at DCC since 2021. Earlier, he was Dean of Student Success at El Centro College in Dallas, Texas, and Project Coordinator for Student Success/Assistant Dean, Interim Dean of Student Development and Academic Advisor at Lonestar College in Tomball, Texas. Dr. Johnson has also served in program management and student advising and was a lecturer at the University of Houston, Houston, Texas; University of Texas, Dallas, Texas; and Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana. Dr. Johnson earned an associate degree at Seattle Central Community College, a Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Washington, a Master’s Degree at Indiana State University, and a Doctor of Education Degree at University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. He also completed the Future Presidents Institute at the American Association of Community Colleges.
Rushton Johnson
Dr. Rushton Johnson, Jr. currently serves as Vice President of Student Affairs at Pellissippi State Community College, Knoxville, TN, a post he has held since June 2018. Prior to that, Dr. Johnson served as Vice President of Student Affairs at Atlanta Technical College. He gained faculty teaching experience at Pellissippi State, The University of Georgia College of Education, Stillman College, and Nicolls State University College of Education. Dr. Johnson also
served as Executive Director of Student Life at Southern Oregon University, Dean of Students at Nicolls State University, Asst. Dean of Students at Millsaps College, Director of Residence Life at Southern College, and Director of Student Activities at Stillman College.
Dr. Johnson earned a B.A. at Birmingham-Southern College, Master’s Degrees from Harvard University and Jacksonville State, and a Doctor of Education Degree at the University of Alabama.
Morgan Phillips
Dr. Morgan Phillips has served as Vice Chancellor for Academic Excellence at Pima Community College District in Tucson, Arizona since 2020. Prior to that, he was Campus President at Pima Community College. He served as VP of Academics and Student Affairs and VP of Curriculum and Instruction/CAO and Chief Planning Officer at Southeastern Community College in Whiteville, N.C. Dr. Phillips also served as Mathematics Professor, Academic Dean and Dept. Chair at Valencia College in Orlando, FL. Dr. Phillips earned associate degrees at Pima Community College, Blue Ridge Community College and Brevard Community College. He earned B.S. and Master’s Degrees at the University of Central Florida. He earned Ed.S. and Ed.D. Degrees at the University of Florida.
About Danville Community College:Danville Community College is a two-year institution of higher education under the state-wide Virginia Community College System. DCC’s service area includes the City of Danville, Pittsylvania County, and Halifax County. For more information about the college’s nearly 100 programs of study, visit www.danville.edu.
About Virginia’s Community Colleges:
Since 1966, Virginia’s Community Colleges have given everyone the opportunity to learn and develop the right skills, so lives and communities are strengthened. By making higher education and workforce training available in every part of Virginia, we elevate all of Virginia. In academic year 2024, Virginia’s Community Colleges served more than 232,000 students across 23 schools throughout Virginia. For more information, please visit www.vccs.edu. For more information on FastForward, please visit fastforwardva.org
