State Fair Community College will host three public forums April 22 to gather insight to assist with the college’s presidential search. The community is invited and encouraged to participate in discussions about the qualities, characteristics and qualifications SFCC should seek in its next president, as well as the opportunities and challenges facing the college in the years ahead.
One-hour forums will be held on the Sedalia campus at 9 a.m. and noon in Stauffacher Theatre and at 5:30 p.m. in the lobby of the Ellebracht Agriculture and Mechanics Building. No RSVP is required.
Feedback gathered during the forums will be used to develop a presidential profile, a comprehensive description of the essential skills, leadership traits, experience and personal characteristics needed for the role. Community members also will have an opportunity to ask questions about the presidential search process.
The discussions will be facilitated by Bradley Ebersole, Ph.D., a search consultant with the Association of Community College Trustees. Ebersole is assisting the college with development of the presidential profile, recruitment of highly competitive candidates and coordination with SFCC and the Board of Trustees throughout the search process.
In addition to the public forums, the Board of Trustees has developed a brief online survey for those unable to attend the discussions. Anonymous responses will also help inform the development of the presidential profile. The survey is available at sfccmo.edu/presidential-search. The deadline to submit feedback is 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 22.
After a distinguished career spanning nearly 40 years in higher education, State Fair Community College President Dr. Brent Bates announced his decision to retire Jan. 13, 2026. He will step down Dec. 31, marking the end of a transformative four-year tenure as SFCC’s sixth president. For more information and updates about SFCC’s presidential search, visit sfccmo.edu/presidential-search.
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