Danville, VA – Dr. David Doré, Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), announced today he has appointed Dr. Cornelius Johnson, Ed.D., who is currently serving as the Vice President of Academic Affairs & Student Services, as the Interim President of Danville Community College (DCC) effective Dec. 1.
“During this pivotal transition period, I am excited to have someone of Johnson’s caliber and experience leading Danville Community College,” said Dr. David Doré, Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System. “His leadership will be instrumental as we continue to focus on expanding our partnerships and initiatives that will drive success for our students and the broader community.”
Johnson has over 26 years of experience in higher education, with a focus on creating a student-centered environment. In his four years at DCC, he has spearheaded numerous initiatives that have significantly enriched the college community. Noteworthy accomplishments include launching an early college program for high school juniors and seniors, expanding the student affairs division into a full-service model, successfully completing a fifth-year interim report required for regional accreditation by SACSCOC*, and developing a new strategic plan along with a comprehensive enrollment management approach that involves collaboration from faculty, student services, and community partners.
His extensive leadership experience is complemented by roles, such as Dean of Student Services at multiple institutions and as a faculty member at respected universities including Indiana State University and the University of Texas at Dallas. His experience as a Program Manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center included recruiting and mentoring exceptional scholars across the nation in STEM fields. As a committed advocate for student success during his tenure at El Centro College, he co-led the Dallas Community College District of 7 colleges in the redesign of the student experience in creating a student life cycle framework for Guided Pathways. Dr. Johnson continues this critical work today in his capacity on the American Association of Community Colleges Commission on Structured Pathways.
Holding a Doctorate in Educational Leadership Administration from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and multiple degrees in higher education and communications, he is also an esteemed alum of the AACC Future President’s Institute.
“I am truly honored to lead Danville Community College during this dynamic interim period as we work towards enhancing education and workforce development across our region while pursuing SACSCOC* reaffirmation,” said Johnson. “We will prioritize building impactful partnerships and expanding our programs to improve access to higher education and creating career pathways for our students.”
On October 29, it was announced Dr. Jerry Wallace will be leaving his position as President of Danville Community College to become campus president at West Virginia University Potomac State College.
The search for a permanent president of Danville Community College will begin soon. It is a lengthy process and will be conducted similar to previous presidential searches at other colleges within the system. This national search will involve input from the local college board, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders, which will help to identify and prioritize the qualifications needed for the next president.
About Danville Community College
One of 23 colleges in the Virginia Community College System, the 86-acre campus is located approximately two miles from downtown Danville on South Main Street. Danville Community College developed from two institutions, Danville Technical Institute and the Danville Division of Virginia Polytechnic Institute. On July 1, 1968, the Danville Division of Virginia Polytechnic Institute merged with the existing community college providing comprehensive programs. As of October 2024, the college has more than 1,500 full-time students enrolled.
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 AY 2024, Virginia’s Community Colleges served more than 232,000 students across 23 schools throughout Virginia. For more information, please visit www.vccs.edu.
*The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is an institutional accreditor for quality assurance in higher education. For more information go to sacscoc.org.
