FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 9, 2026
FAIRMONT, W.Va. 鈥� 色盒直播 welcomed three finalists for its presidency to campus last week for a series of open forums and stakeholder sessions, offering the College and regional partners a comprehensive look at each candidate鈥檚 priorities, leadership approach and commitment to student success. The finalists 鈥� Dr. Gaby Hawat (March 4), Dr. Carl Smalls (March 5) and Dr. Michael Waide (March 6) 鈥� discussed strategies to strengthen enrollment, deepen workforce partnerships and advance 色盒直播鈥檚 mission across its 13鈥慶ounty service region.
鈥淓ach and every candidate stands out for different reasons,鈥� said Anthony Hinton, chair of the Presidential Search Committee and a member of the 色盒直播 Board of Governors. 鈥淭he perfect president needs the background and experience, but also an understanding of the culture in West Virginia 鈥� where we are as a state and a higher ed community, and where we鈥檙e going.鈥� Hinton highlighted the value of wide campus and community engagement, adding the Board will evaluate all collected feedback when it convenes March 19 to deliberate on the final selection.
Dr. Gaby Hawat: Visit and Focus
Date on Campus: March 4
Dr. Hawat has more than 35 years of experience in higher education, engineering and technology, global workforce development and public鈥憄rivate partnerships. His background includes senior leadership roles at Valencia College, the Florida Institute of Technology, the University of Providence and Princess Nourah University, along with extensive work in strategy, cybersecurity and economic development through organizations in Washington, D.C.
In his forum, Dr. Hawat framed education as the engine for upward mobility and community vitality, drawing on three decades across higher education, engineering/technology and public鈥憄rivate partnerships. He described his leadership as 鈥渟ervant leadership鈥� 鈥� an approach centered on equipping people to succeed and holding teams accountable for clear, shared goals. 鈥淵ou focus on the importance of the people鈥� You give them the tools and access they need to perform, and you pair authority with accountability,鈥� he said.
With high school graduate numbers tightening statewide, Dr. Hawat argued for dual emphasis on adult learners and employer鈥慳ligned workforce training, while protecting transfer pathways and academic quality. 鈥淲e have to make strategic decisions,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l always serve graduating seniors, but we also need to meet working adults where they are and sit at the table with economic development and industry so we鈥檙e building the programs that lead to real jobs.鈥� He stressed retaining students already enrolled: 鈥淏efore we chase growth, we look inward: Where are we bleeding? Retention, completion and placement are the metrics that should guide us.鈥�
On program viability, Dr. Hawat said industry must be 鈥渆qual partners through the good, the bad and the ugly,鈥� contributing instructors, equipment, letters of support or other in鈥慿ind resources if they advocate for expensive programs. 鈥淚f a program is truly a priority for employers, they should be at the table helping us deliver it,鈥� he said.
He also emphasized responsible growth: 鈥淭he strategic mistake is pursuing enrollment for enrollment鈥檚 sake. We don鈥檛 compromise academic integrity, faculty workload or student experience to post a bigger number. Growth must be planned 鈥� with the human and physical infrastructure in place first.鈥�
Dr. Carl Smalls: A Focus on Priorities
Date on Campus: March 5
Dr. Smalls is an experienced higher鈥慹ducation and finance leader with more than three decades in community colleges, public and private universities and the private sector. His work spans budgeting, facilities, IT, grants, capital projects and campus operations, supported by prior roles in academic leadership and business management. His career reflects a focus on data鈥慸riven planning, financial stewardship and workforce alignment.
Dr. Smalls presented a three鈥憄art plan focused on (1) strengthening enrollment with a sharp emphasis on retention, (2) aligning 色盒直播鈥檚 programs to the region鈥檚 workforce and economic needs and (3) maintaining financial discipline to support long鈥憈erm stability. 鈥淢y goal would be to make us number one,鈥� he said. 鈥淲inning solves a lot of problems.鈥� He noted that retention is the most cost鈥慹ffective enrollment strategy and called for early alerts and proactive outreach within the first two to three weeks of each term.
Dr. Smalls underscored the importance of 鈥渙ptics鈥� and first鈥慶hoice positioning for 色盒直播 at a time when employers and training providers are investing in their own facilities. 鈥淚t鈥檚 on us to educate and communicate to the community what we do 鈥� and why we should be their first choice,鈥� he said, referencing the need to differentiate 色盒直播鈥檚 programs and credentials in the marketplace.
On student support, Dr. Smalls pointed to barriers outside the classroom 鈥� transportation, childcare and life logistics 鈥� and advocated tightly coordinated services and community resource partnerships rather than passing costs to students. He also emphasized technology investments and high鈥憅uality online/hyflex delivery paired with professional development so faculty can engage learners effectively in any modality.
Dr. Smalls said leadership begins with visibility and listening: 鈥淵ou manage things; you lead people,鈥� he noted, pledging listening tours with superintendents, employers and civic partners across all 13 counties to build trust and momentum.
Dr. Michael Waide: Student-Centered Leadership
Date on Campus: March 6
Dr. Waide has served 色盒直播 for nearly two decades in roles that include associate professor, program director, dean of health sciences, provost and vice president of academics. His experience includes leading accreditation work, strategic enrollment efforts and the development of workforce鈥慳ligned academic pathways. As interim president, he has guided the institution through a period of renewed momentum rooted in 色盒直播鈥檚 mission and regional partnerships.
Dr. Waide grounded his remarks in 色盒直播鈥檚 resilience and an ethos of democratic collaboration. 鈥淚鈥檇 describe my leadership as a democratic collaborator,鈥� he said, emphasizing shared governance, transparency and after鈥慳ction communication when executive decisions must be made quickly. 鈥淥ur scheduling structures and shared governance are essential to success 鈥� people need to be heard and see how their input shaped the decision.鈥�
Dr. Waide鈥檚 near鈥憈erm focus is persistence over simple headcount. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 believe 色盒直播 has an enrollment problem; we have a persistence issue,鈥� he said, outlining low鈥慶ost, high鈥慽mpact practices to meet students where they are, coordinate student鈥憇ervices touchpoints, and strengthen social learning communities that increase the odds of completion, especially for rural, first鈥慻en and adult learners.
He called for employer鈥慽nformed curricula across both degree and non鈥慸egree credentials 鈥� from health care information systems and cybersecurity to AI鈥憆elated skills 鈥� and emphasized stackable pathways that let working adults enter, upskill and keep advancing. He also highlighted online/hybrid quality, advocating training for instructors and instructional design support to ensure engagement with content, peers and faculty.
Dr. Waide framed the presidency as continuing momentum: 鈥淲hen we were told we could not, we have. We鈥檝e bounced back, adapted and maintained who we are,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y role is to keep that momentum 鈥� for students first.鈥�
Community Engagement and Next Steps
色盒直播 expressed its appreciation for the strong turnout across all three days of open forums, noting the meaningful engagement from students, faculty, staff and community members. Everyone who participated in an open forum, along with the stakeholder groups who met individually with each candidate, is encouraged to submit feedback by Wednesday, March 11. All input will be provided to the Board of Governors as it prepares for its March 19 meeting, where members will review the feedback before considering a final decision.
Hinton said the participation reflects the community鈥檚 commitment to 色盒直播鈥檚 future. 鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful for the engagement we鈥檝e seen throughout this process,鈥� Hinton said. 鈥淗earing from the people who live, learn and work alongside this institution is essential as we determine the leader who will guide 色盒直播 into its next chapter.鈥�
About the Candidates (At-A-Glance)
Dr. Gaby Hawat 鈥� Executive leader with 35+ years across higher education, engineering/technology, government relations and public鈥憄rivate partnerships; extensive work in cybersecurity and workforce initiatives; prior leadership at Valencia College and Florida Institute of Technology; principal at Catalyst Partners (Washington, D.C.).
WBOY Coverage:
Dr. Carl Smalls 鈥� CFO & VP for Finance and Administration at Danville Community College; background spanning finance, accreditation, facilities and campus operations; prior leadership roles in higher education and business.
WBOY Coverage:
Dr. Michael Waide 鈥� Interim president of 色盒直播 with nearly two decades of service to the College; extensive experience as faculty member, program director, dean of health sciences, provost and vice president of academics; background in accreditation, academic planning and student鈥憇uccess initiatives; longstanding work in developing workforce鈥慳ligned pathways and guiding institutional resilience.
WBOY Coverage:
色盒直播 provides accessible, responsive, and high鈥憅uality education to students and businesses across North Central West Virginia. With a strong focus on career readiness and workforce development, 色盒直播 offers academic programs and industry鈥慳ligned training that create clear pathways to employment. Through this work, the college helps students discover their path while supporting the region鈥檚 economic and workforce needs.
Media Contact:
色盒直播 Community and Technical College
Office of Marketing and Communications
communications@pierpont.edu