By Joshua Phelps and Timothy Bold
The Scene staff
Provost Larry Johnson is leaving Forest Park to become president of Phoenix College in Arizona. His last day is June 30.
Phoenix is considered the flagship of the Maricopa County Community College district, which has 10 campuses. Phoenix enrolls about 20,000 students.
“I will directly report to the chancellor,” Johnson said. “The provost position (at Forest Park) is an academic affairs position on campus. My new position will allow me to drive the vision.”
On Tuesday, Maricopa Chancellor Maria Marinick announced that Johnson had been selected as one of four new college presidents for the system after an “extensive, nationwide search.”
“(The district) identified several key criteria for the presidential position,” she wrote, “including finding a leader who was a recognized innovator in higher education, dedicated to economic and workforce development in Arizona and committed to building a thriving community through student success.”
Johnson’s new job begins July 1. On Wednesday, St. Louis Community College Chancellor Jeff Pittman emailed news of his departure to faculty and staff.
“I am excited to announce that Dr. Larry Johnson … has accepted a new leadership role,” he wrote. “Certainly, we will all miss Dr. Johnson. However, at the same time we are very happy for him and wish him success in his new opportunity.”
Johnson joined STLCC administration two years ago at age 35. He came from Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he was associate dean of academic affairs.
In an interview Wednesday, Johnson described Forest Park as a “great” campus with a lot of diversity. The student body is about 50 percent black, compared to 8 percent in the Maricopa district.
“I will miss engaging with students, taking them on trips to the Fox, St. Louis Symphony and the 100 Black Men Metropolitan Gala,” Johnson said.
Johnson also has participated in many student activities. He is known as a sharp dresser, partial to European-cut suits, wingtips and patterned pocket squares.
“We appreciated him coming to the Black History Month Jamboree,” said nursing major Faiza Mohamed, 20, secretary of the African Pride Club. “Whenever we needed him, he was always there.”
Johnson said he hopes people remember him for “fostering innovations” and “cultivating an environment of transparency and inclusion.”
“I’ve learned an enormous amount from him,” said Julie Fickas, dean of the STEM and business division at Forest Park.
“He’s working hard for the college and has really good leadership,” said educational assistant Dossah Edorh.
Pittman also praised Johnson.
“All of us at STLCC appreciate the leadership and impact (he) had as provost, from community partnerships with St. Louis Public Schools from the Early College Academy to supporting student engagement through events such as Social Justice Week.”
Maricopa County Community College District was established in 1962. It’s one of the nation’s largest community college systems and is the single largest provider of higher education and career training in Arizona, according to its website.
Pittman’s statement didn’t name a replacement for Johnson.
“Details on the process for identifying the new provost at the Forest Park campus will be forthcoming very soon,” he wrote.