Denmark Tech hires new president
by Dionne Gleaton, The Times and Democrat
Denmark Technical College’s new president says he wants to increase student enrollment and ensure academic success.
The area commission selected Dr. Michael M. Townsend Sr. to serve as the college’s 10th president during a special called meeting on Monday. He will officially assume his position on Jan. 18.
“We wanted someone who has a broad experience and definitely had some experience with the financial affairs of a college. He met those requirements very, very well. And he responds and gets along with people. We felt that he would be a good candidate for us and move the school from where we are to greater heights,” Area Commission Chairman James Hayes said.
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| Dr. Michael M. Townsend |
Commissioners fired former President Dr. John Waddell in August. Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Walt Tobin stepped in to serve as interim president while the college sought a new one.
Townsend is vice president of Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Mequon Campus in Wisconsin. The Mequon Campus is the Milwaukee Area Technical College’s second-largest campus with more than 6,500 students and more than 100 faculty and staff.
He has more than 16 years of experience in higher education. Prior to joining the Milwaukee Area Technical College system, he was dean of students at Kankakee Community College in Illinois and had also served as associate dean of students at Depaul University’s College of Education.
Townsend said he is excited about the opportunity of becoming president and has “loads of appreciation and excitement” for the area commission.
“I think they’re an outstanding, proactive and visionary group of leaders that are going to help me as we go to the next level,” Townsend said.
He said “getting a good handle on increasing student enrollment, ensuring academic student success and establishing strong partnerships with community, business and economic development organizations” are among his objectives.
“From what I’ve heard already, we have a very high-talented faculty that is very good in their arenas. I’ll be listening and talking to the faculty, staff and students about their thoughts and ideas as we go into this next vision of being the best that we can be,” he said.
Townsend said community members must be trained for future jobs even in a sour economy.
“We must train our men and women who have lost their jobs, help them get into a new career and help our incoming students to go into areas where they’re going to do great things into the new future, including green jobs and technology opportunities. That goes back to the mission of Denmark Technical College, to ensure the growth, success and development of the community that we serve in Allendale, Bamberg and Barnwell,” he said.
Townsend said the job won’t be easy, but he’s up for the challenge.
“We have a lot of work to do, but it’s an exciting time. I’m just very excited about the area commission. They’re just like incredible leaders who want to move in a positive direction for success,” he said.
Townsend is a member of Rotary International and serves on several community, education and economic development boards. He is a graduate of the community college system and earned his doctoral degree in educational leadership administration from Northern Illinois University.
He and his wife, Minnie, are the parents of Capt. Michael Townsend Jr., who is serving in the U.S. Army JAG Division, and Kelli Townsend, a special education teacher.
