Jordan, Spry elected to top board posts at community college

Two relatively new members were elected to the top positions on the Harford Community College Board of Trustees last week.

Ralph H. Jordan was chosen to replace former Chairman Leland C. Sanborn, and Dr. Lehman W. Spry was elected vice chairman.

Both officers were appointed to the board by then-Gov. William Donald Schaefer in December.

Mr. Sanborn left his post as the Joppatowne representative to the board a year early this summer because he is moving to a retirement community in Baltimore County. He had been chairman since 1992.

Mr. Jordan, marketing coordinator for the Susquehanna Region Private Industry Council, is an at-large representative to the board.

Dr. Spry, a Havre de Grace dentist, also is an at-large representative.

Last week's meeting was the first for newly-appointed board member Dr. Charles J. Castoro, an ophthalmologist representing the Fallston area. He was sworn in Aug. 18, along with Anne B. Ramsay, who was reappointed to a second five-year term on the board.

Board members will oversee the college during a year of slightly lower enrollment for the fall semester, according to a brief financial report by W. Stephen Pannill, vice president of administration and finance.

Tuition and fees are down almost 1.5 percent from last year at this time.

In other business, the board unanimously approved a list of 61 goals for the coming year. Improving improving student services and recruitment top the list, which also includes sections on academic excellence, technology and partnerships with businesses and other colleges.

The meeting also featured a tribute to state Sen. William H. Amoss, a 35th District Democrat, by the board and by the Harford County Astronomical Society, thanking Mr. Amoss for his help in getting funding for a new observatory for the campus.

A $200,000 observatory, funded by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, will replace the current facility, which has been made nearly useless by lights from new buildings and other development at the Churchville campus.

In an executive session closed to the public, board members discussed a review of the last presidential search process. The search was completed earlier this year with the appointment of Dr. Claudia E. Chiesi.