Trustees approve presidential pick for Tompkins Cortland Community College

Orinthia Montague was selected as president of Tompkins Cortland Community College in May 2017 (TC3/Youtube)

DRYDEN, N.Y. — Tompkins Cortland Community College has selected a new president.

Orinthia Montague, who has been a leader in higher education for 18 years, has been selected to be the fourth president of TC3. She will take over from Carl Haynes, who has served as a "beloved and highly effective" president for the past 23 years, the university said. She officially begins July 5.

"...After a lengthy and involved national search that involved students, faculty, staff and community, we were delighted to have so many high-quality candidates, and we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Montague as our next president,” Tompkins Cortland Community College Board of Trustees Chairperson Elizabeth Burns said in a news release. “Dr. Montague has served in a number of important roles in institutions of higher learning, and her passion for working towards success of students of various backgrounds is a good match for this College and for the challenge of moving us forward. I believe she is the right person at the right time for the College, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the result of our search.”

Montague is currently the vice president of student affairs and chief diversity officer at Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Montague earned a Bachelor of Arts in interpersonal communication from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri; a Master of Arts in counseling from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri; and a Doctorate degree in higher education administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri. She has also completed leadership programs, including the League of Innovation Executive Leadership Institute.

All three local colleges — Cornell University, Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community College — now have new presidents and women leading the institutions.

The State University of New York Board of Trustees approved the appointment Wednesday, a news release said.

Montague has led college efforts and partnerships involving public and private secondary schools, as well as community and business collaborations, "including a partnership with Bloomington Public School District and Hennepin County to provide direct higher educational opportunities to close the gap for underrepresented populations with a focus on homeless students, foster children, and teen parents," a news release said.

“Dr. Montague has a keen focus on strategic enrollment, as well as access and student success toward earning a degree,” SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher said in a news release. “Her 18 years of dedicated service to higher education will be a great benefit to Tompkins Cortland Community College.”

“On behalf of the SUNY Board of Trustees, we are pleased with the selection of Dr. Montague as president,” said SUNY Chairman of the Board H. Carl McCall. “She is a strong leader who will continue to build on Tompkins Cortland Community College’s mission of creating an environment for academic success.”

Featured image provided by TC3.