Oakwood Native Dr. Randy Fletcher Named Interim DACC President; Board Chairman Expresses Hope it Becomes Permanent

ABOVE: Soon to be Danville Area Community College Interim President Dr. Randy Fletcher poses with the DACC Board of Trustees.

Oakwood native Dr. Randy Fletcher has been named interim president at Danville Area Community College for December 16th through next June 30th.  And the 1987 Oakwood High School graduate is hoping to be around long after that as well.  With Dr. Stephen Nacco’s now planned departure and retirement in mid-December, an interim president was the DACC Board of Trustees’ first priority.

After entering college as a religion major at Illinois Wesleyan University, Dr. Fletcher later earned Masters Degrees in Communications from Illinois State, as well as in Library Science from the University of Illinois; and a Doctorate in Education and Higher Education from the U of I.  He spent 12 years at DACC from 1996 to 2008, before spending eight years at Parkland Community College, four at Joliet Junior College, and eventually as Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs and Provost at Eastern Florida State College.  In his early working days, he also spent some time as a journalist in Northeast Montana.  And when the chance came to pursue a presidency back home, he was thrilled.  And Dr. Fletcher fully intends to be DACC’s permanent president.

(1st Picture)  Future DACC Interim President Dr. Randy Fletcher takes a seat (at the corner, back) along with DACC Board of Trustees.  (2nd Picture) Dr. Randy Fletcher and his older brother, former major leaguer Darren Fletcher.

AUDIO: Absolutely.  Well, I think it’s just talking, listening to the faculty and the staff.  We’re really looking at new pipelines of students.  It was nice to see that a new program has been approved by the Higher Learning Commission, in Speech Pathology Associate Technician.  You’re always needing to expand your current technical ed offerings.

And indeed, Dr. Fletcher says one of his many goals for DACC is to continue preparing local students for the local workforce, and to keep in close touch with those doing the hiring.

AUDIO: And to see how the industry feels about those degrees; the credentials that students are achieving; to make sure that they have skills, and work ready skills, to meet labor market needs of this community, the communities of the southern counties of  Western Indiana, and then also regionally.

Dr. Fletcher had family members there for the official decision at the Thursday (Nov 21st) evening DACC Board of Trustees meeting.  Among them, his older brother, former major league ballplayer Darren Fletcher.

AUDIO:  I played the same sports that he did all through high school.  But there was something special about him, obviously.  I spent a lot of time throwing a wiffleball to the garage door, so he could perfect his swing that he had for his 14 years in the major leagues.  I was his pitching coach, pitching dummy, many times.

DACC Board of Trustees chairman Greg Wolfe says the board would love to take the initiative to make Fletcher the permanent president sometime during the six month interim period.  They will now simply watch, and evaluate how things go.