Anoka presidential candidates had problematic backgrounds

Looks like Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Anoka Technical College attracted some candidates in its $62,000 scrapped presidential search that MnSCU could have found potentially problematic.

Check out these newspaper articles on two of the semifinalists:

  • Ronald Erickson, president of Hocking College:

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A mess at Hocking College

President might quit unless board of trustees stops its ‘relentless challenge’ of his leadership

(June 20,2010)

  • Constance Mierendorf, senior adviser at Hudson County Community College in New Jersey:

Ex-Sussex County college president files lawsuit on being dismissed in 'witch hunt' college board meeting

(October 21, 2010)

(Troubled relationships with past boards -- whatever the reason -- is often a warning flag to potential future ones.)

Then there's Alex Kajstura, provost of the Norfolk campus of Tidewater Community College in Virginia. Looks like he has been gunning for presidencies at Brookhaven College in Texas, South Piedmont Community College in North Carolina, and last year at Tallahassee Community College in Flordia, judging from a quick search.

What does that say? Does it make it look like he's just looking to get out of Tidewater -- no matter where? Not enough focused interest in Anoka? Does it look a little desperate?

In any case, I guess MnSCU spokeswoman Melinda Voss comment that "sometimes, there’s just not a match" appears all too true.

(Thanks to MPR's Paul Tosto, who found many of these links.)