South Central College Announces Four Finalists for President

South Central College has narrowed their search to 4 finalists to be the next President. The current President, Dr. Annette Parker, announced her retirement back on August 19, 2024. The term for the new President will begin July 1st, 2025. The four finalists include:

Dr. Heather Bigard – Dr. Heather Bigard served Lake-Sumter State College (FL) as president and chief executive officer between July 2022 and August 2024. Previously, she served Lake-Sumter as interim president from March-July 2022, and provost and executive vice president between 2016-2022. Prior to that, she was vice president of finance and administration and chief financial officer at Midway University (KY) from 2015-2016, vice president administration and finance and chief financial officer at Blackburn College (IL) from 2008-2015, chief financial and operations officer at Springfield College (IL) between 1998-2008, financial aid and enrollment management coordinator for Deaconess College of Nursing (MO) in 1998, and financial aid counselor and work program administrator at Lambuth University (TN) between 1995-1997. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Lambuth University, and a master’s and doctorate of education from Benedictine University. She is scheduled to visit South Central College on Wednesday, March 26, starting on the Faribault campus.

Dr. Ritu Raju – Dr. Ritu Raju currently serves as president and chief executive officer of Gateway Technical College (WI), a role she has held since January 2023. Previously she served as vice president of academic affairs at Tarrant County College Northeast Campus (TX) from 2020-2022. She served Houston Community College (TX) as dean and interim dean of Advanced Manufacturing from 2018-2020, division chair for speech, communication and sign language from 2015-2018, associate chair technical and mass communication between 2008-2015, and taught English at the college from 2006-2014. She holds bachelor’s degrees from Bangalore University India and the University of Houston Downtown, a master’s from Sam Houston State University, and a doctorate from Texas Tech University. She is scheduled to visit South Central College on Wednesday, March 26, beginning on the North Mankato campus.

Dr. Tia Robinson-Cooper – Dr. Tia Robinson-Cooper served Ivy Tech Community College (IN) as chancellor between 2022-2024. Prior to that, she was the president at Contra Costa Community College (CA) from 2021-2022, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Inver Hills Community College (MN) from 2018-2021, vice president of academic affairs/chief academic officer for East Central College (MO) between 2016-2018, dean of teaching and learning from 2015-2016 at Rock Valley College (IL), dean of instruction at Olive-Harvey College (IL) between 2013-2015, as well as a faculty member at Olive-Harvey from 2006-2013, dean of academic affairs at Northwestern College (IL) from 2008-2013, and dean of instruction for American InterContinental University College of Business and Management (IL) between 2003-2006. She holds an associate’s degree from Kishwaukee College, a bachelor’s from Northern Illinois University, two masters’ degrees from National Louis University, and a doctorate of education from Northern Illinois University. She is scheduled to visit South Central College on Tuesday, March 25, starting on the Faribault campus.

Dr. Lester Sandres Rápalo – Dr. Lester Sandres Rápalo served as president of Rockland Community College (NY) from 2023-2024. Prior to that, he served Bronx Community College (NY) between 2020-2023 as provost and vice president for academic affairs. He held a number of positions at Union County College (NJ) including provost and dean of the Institute for Intensive English from 2017-2020, dean of social sciences, business and history from 2015-2018, and interim dean of American honors between 2016-2017. He served Valencia College (FL) from 2008-2014 in various roles such as interim dean of humanities and foreign language, program director, and chair of humanities and foreign language. From 2004-2006, he served the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (MA) as study abroad program director and residence director, and since 2017 he has served as a professor of business for Saint Elizabeth University (NJ). He holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, a master of business administration from Syracuse University-Whitman School of Management, and a doctorate of education from Nova Southeastern University. He is scheduled to visit South Central College on Tuesday, March 25, beginning on the North Mankato campus.

The four finalists are scheduled for South Central College Finalist Visits with College feedback provided to Minnesota State between March 24-26, 2025.

Below is a list of the forums and their locations:

Community Open Forums

(for South Central College partners, alumni, and area community members)

Faribault Campus, 1225 Third Street SW – Events Center 
Dr. Robinson-Cooper:  Tuesday, March 25 at 8:00 a.m.
Dr. Sandres-Rapalo:  Tuesday, March 25 at 3:30 p.m.
Dr. Bigard:  Wednesday, March 26 at 8:00 a.m.
Dr. Raju:  Wednesday, March 26 at 3:30 p.m.

North Mankato Campus, 1920 Lee Boulevard – Heritage Hall
Dr. Sandres-Rapalo:  Tuesday, March 25 at 8:00 a.m.
Dr. Robinson-Cooper:  Tuesday, March 25 at 3:30 p.m.
Dr. Raju:  Wednesday, March 26 at 8:00 a.m.
Dr. Bigard:  Wednesday, Mach 26 at 3:30 p.m.

Employee Forums

(for all current South Central College faculty and staff)

Faribault Campus, 1225 Third Street SW – Events Center 
Dr. Robinson-Cooper:  Tuesday, March 25 at 9:00 a.m.
Dr. Sandres-Rapalo:  Tuesday, March 25 at 2:30 p.m.
Dr. Bigard:  Wednesday, March 26 at 9:00 a.m.
Dr. Raju:  Wednesday, March 26 at 2:30 p.m.

North Mankato Campus, 1920 Lee Boulevard – Heritage Hall
Dr. Sandres-Rapalo:  Tuesday, March 25 at 9:00 a.m.
Dr. Robinson-Cooper:  Tuesday, March 25 at 2:30 p.m.
Dr. Raju:  Wednesday, March 26 at 9:00 a.m.
Dr. Bigard:  Wednesday, March 26 at 2:30 p.m.

Student Forums

(for all current South Central College students)

Faribault Campus, 1225 Third Street SW – Events Center 

Dr. Robinson-Cooper:  Tuesday, March 25 at 10:00 a.m.
Dr. Sandres-Rapalo:  Tuesday, March 25 at 1:30 p.m.
Dr. Bigard:  Wednesday, March 26 at 10:00 a.m.
Dr. Raju:  Wednesday, March 26 at 1:30 p.m.

North Mankato Campus, 1920 Lee Boulevard – Heritage Hall
Dr. Sandres-Rapalo:  Tuesday, March 25 at 10:00 a.m.
Dr. Robinson-Cooper:  Tuesday, March 25 at 12:30 p.m.
Dr. Raju:  Wednesday, March 26 at 10:00 a.m.
Dr. Bigard:  Wednesday, March 26 at 12:30 p.m.

Administrator Forums

(for South Central College Vice Presidents and Deans)

North Mankato Campus, 1920 Lee Boulevard – Heritage Hall
Dr. Sandres-Rapalo:  Tuesday, March 25 at 11:00 a.m.
Dr. Robinson-Cooper:  Tuesday, March 25 at 1:30 p.m.
Dr. Raju:  Wednesday, March 26 at 11:00 a.m.
Dr. Bigard:  Wednesday, March 26 at 1:30 p.m.

Finalist Interviews with Minnesota State will then occur from March 26-28, 2025. The Board of Trustees will then have a Meeting Confirming the Presidential Selection on April 16, 2025.