Less than two weeks after President Steven Ender accepted a new position with a Michigan school, Westmoreland County Community College's executive committee has recommended the appointment of a temporary successor.
On Wednesday, WCCC announced that its executive committee board of trustees agreed to recommend that the full board accept Ender's resignation at its earliest meeting and appoint Daniel Obara as interim president.
Last month, Ender accepted the position of president of Grand Rapids Community College.
Ender, 58, was hired in 2005 to succeed longtime president Daniel Krezenski. Ender's contract, which paid him about $160,000 annually, would have expired in mid-2010.
Ender was embroiled in a public power struggle with the county commissioners last year over hiring authority at the school, but said he intended to fulfill his contract if the Grand Rapids opportunity fell through.
WCCC spokeswoman Anna Marie Palatella said Ender's last official day on the Hempfield campus is expected to be Friday. It was unclear when the full board will next meet.
Since January 1996, Obara has served as vice president for academic affairs and student services at WCCC, overseeing departments including admissions, registration, counseling, financial aid, placement testing and tutoring.
"The board is very comfortable appointing Dr. Obara as interim president," said Gene P. Ciafre, chairman of the WCCC board of trustees. "His past tenure, experience and relationship with the entire WCCC community give us this comfort level."
