CANCELED: Madison College Presidential Search Community Forum

Oct. 15 update:

Statement on Presidential Search from Madison College District Board of Trustees Chair Donald D. Dantzler Jr. 

At a meeting this afternoon, the Madison College District Board of Trustees made the decision to restart the search process for our next president. 

With the news earlier this week of Dr. Carlos Cortez withdrawing from the presidential search process, the board determined that, with only two candidates remaining, we did not have the breadth of options necessary to make the best possible choice for Madison College. This is critical to the process and ensures we select a leader who can truly meet the unique needs and expectations of our students, faculty, staff, and the broader community. 

The board’s priority has been and will continue to be finding the right long-term leader for Madison College. This commitment remains unwavering. 

We have informed Gold Hill Associates, the search firm assisting us with the search, as well as the two remaining candidates, that we will not proceed with the interviews and forums scheduled for this week and next. 

To ensure continuity, the board has selected current Madison College Executive Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Tim Casper to serve as interim president, effective upon the retirement of President Daniels in January. This board decision was unanimous and reflects our full confidence in Dr. Casper’s leadership and demonstrated commitment to Madison College. His appointment will help maintain momentum on key initiatives, foster strong relationships within our campus and broader community, and uphold our deep commitment to equity, access, and student success. 

We trust that Dr. Casper will continue the great work of this college. His proven leadership assures us that Madison College will remain in capable hands during this transition. 

When available, we will provide further updates on the progress of restarting the presidential search process. If you have questions, please direct those to the board at search@madisoncollege.edu.  

media release: The Madison College District Board of Trustees has selected three final candidates in the search to succeed President Dr. Jack E. Daniels III, who will retire in January.

The finalist candidates:

• Dr. Carlos O. Cortez
• Dr. Muddassir Siddiqi
• Dr. Tia Robinson-Cooper

 Dr. Carlos O. Cortez most recently served as chancellor of the San Diego Community College District. He previously served as the president of San Diego College of Continuing Education. He also held faculty positions at Johns Hopkins University, National University, New York University, and the University of California (Berkeley, Los Angeles, and San Diego). He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University, a Master of Arts from New York University, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Southern California.

Dr. Muddassir Siddiqi is the vice chancellor of instructional innovation and digital strategy at the Houston Community College System. He previously served as president of Central College within the Houston Community College System. Dr. Siddiqi holds a Doctor of Education in Adult Education from Northern Illinois University, an MBA from the University of Northern Alabama, and a master’s degree in industrial technology from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Dr. Tia Robinson-Cooper most recently served as chancellor for Ivy Tech Community College’s South Bend-Elkhart campus. Prior to that, she was president of Contra Costa College in California and served as provost and vice president of academic affairs/chief academic officer at Inver Hills Community College. She holds a Doctor of Education in Counseling and Adult Higher Education, an MBA, and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, among other qualifications.

The three candidates, part of a nationwide search by Gold Hill Associates, were interviewed by the college’s search committee and recommended as finalists to the board. During the final search process, candidates will participate in forums open to the Madison College community, stakeholders, and the public, on Oct. 14, Oct. 16, and Oct 21.

“We are fortunate to have three exceptional candidates vying to become Madison College's next president,” said Donald D. Dantzler, Jr., Chair of the Madison College District Board of Trustees. “We eagerly anticipate feedback from the Madison College community, stakeholders and the public as we thoughtfully evaluate these finalists. We are confident that each candidate possesses the leadership and vision to guide the college's exciting future.”

The Madison College District Board of Trustees expects to name the institution’s next president later this year. President Daniels will retire in January after serving the college for over 11 years.

Visit the Madison College Presidential Search web page for full candidate bios and community forum details.