Friday, June 7, 2013

Former PCC Interim Chancellor Calls It Quits

Posted By on Fri, Jun 7, 2013 at 1:00 PM

Suzanne Miles, a Pima Community College administrator who took the reins as interim chancellor from Chancellor Roy Flores for 14 months during the college's most difficult period, announced her retirement via press release last night. In March, during the Higher Learning Commission investigation that led to the college's current probation, Miles stepped down from her position as interim chancellor and remained in her post as president of the Community Campus.

From the press release:

Dr. Suzanne L. Miles, a veteran Pima Community College administrator whose 27 years of service included numerous high-profile posts, has decided to retire.

Miles currently serves as President of Community Campus. Her retirement is effective June 7, 2013.

“This is something I have been thinking about for a long time,” said Dr. Miles. “It has been a tremendous honor to serve my community for nearly three decades as an educator at Pima Community College. The work we do here — helping our students realize their dreams — has been gratifying beyond description. I will always be grateful for the outpouring of genuine support I received, particularly during the many challenges we faced over the past few months.”

Dr. Miles held ten different positions and worked under eight college leaders since she started at Pima in 1986. Dr. Miles herself served as the College’s leader beginning in October 2011 and was formally named Interim Chancellor on Feb. 29, 2012. She held the post for 14 months, until April 12, 2013.

“I sincerely appreciate the support that Dr. Miles has given to me since my arrival at Pima on April 15,” said Interim Chancellor Dr. Zelema Harris. “She has been gracious in sharing information and has remained dedicated to the College throughout the transition in leadership.

As Interim Chancellor, Dr. Miles advanced several initiatives to increase transparency and accountability, including contracting with an outside company to offer a hotline for employees to anonymously comment on PCC ethics issues. She oversaw the hiring of a Provost, Vice Chancellor for Information Technology and the Director of Internal Audit. She also recommended that the College hire a General Counsel to improve how it obtains legal services.

Dr. Miles directed the College to undertake several measures to improve fiscal responsibility, including a review and update of the PCC purchasing manual, and a comprehensive examination of all contracts PCC maintains with its vendors.

Before assuming the Interim Chancellor post, Dr. Miles served as Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, President of the Downtown Campus, Dean/Vice President of Instruction, Dean of Mathematics and Communication, Associate Dean, Department Chair, Educational Program Planner and Coordinator, and adjunct faculty member in Communication.

On a national level, Dr. Miles was a Fulbright Scholar, a Kellogg Fellow, a graduate of the Harvard Institute for Management and Leadership in Education and a graduate of the Executive Leadership Institute with the League of Innovation.

Dr. Harris named Dr. Darla Zirbes, currently Vice President of Instruction at Community Campus, to provide leadership of Community Campus while the College conducts a search for a president.

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