Jowel C. Laguerre is one of top three candidates for N.J. college

By Brian Howey

The PCCD may soon have another vacancy to fill.

Peralta Chancellor Jowel C. Laguerre is one of three finalists for the position of president of the Hudson County Community College (HCCC), located in Jersey City, New Jersey

According to its website, HCCC began its search for a new president in January. The application deadline was Feb. 28.

Chancellor Laguerre declined to say when he submitted his application for the position, saying that it was “not a relevant question.”

Representatives of HCCC didn’t reply to requests for comment.

In an email to the Tower, Laguerre discussed his process for deciding on HCCC.

“A recruiter from Hudson reached out to me and encouraged me to express an interest in the job,” Laguerre wrote. He went on to imply he had visited the campus at some point and was “impressed” by the community he encountered there.

But the chancellor was adamant that he was not abandoning the Peralta community.

“I will always maintain close ties with PCCD beyond my employment with the District,” he said. “With this exciting work ahead of us, there is no place to abandon Peralta or cut ties with an institution that so deserves my time and attention and everyone’s commitment.”

Peralta Federation of Teachers President Jennifer Shanoski found the chancellor’s job prospects underwhelming. She said it was “shocking” that the chancellor would search for another job after receiving a three- year extension to his contract in the fall of 2017.

“The reason for the contract extension was to keep him here,” she said.

His new contract, now extended to 2020, will terminate if he accepts the new position at HCCC. News of the chancellor’s application spread quickly via faculty emails.

“I don’t know anyone that’s not surprised — that’s problematic,” Shanoski said.

The chancellor released a “C-Direct” newsletter on April 18 to address rumors surrounding his potential move. In the newsletter he reiterated, often verbatim, his responses to Tower interview questions.

Though he may be leaving soon, the chancellor said he would have a “permanent place in my heart for Peralta regardless of what I do in the future.”

He focused the remainder of the 13-page C-Direct on the progress made at the Peralta colleges during his tenure.

“Our recent work to identify the needs of the district in a comprehensive way is a promising step toward transforming Peralta,” the chancellor wrote.

Presumably referring to the Tower’s questions, the chancellor mentioned in the newsletter that he had been asked when he would part ways with the district if he took the job.

“I will never part ways with the Peralta Community College District, was my succinct answer,” Laguerre wrote.

The HCCC presidential search advisory committee is expected to conduct interviews of the three shortlisted candidates and announce their final pick for president in April.

Brian Howey is a writer and co-editor in chief for the Laney Tower