Two vice presidents out at Southwest Tennessee Community College

Two of President Tracy Hall's vice presidents are out at Southwest Tennessee Community College, and Hall said she'll be temporarily filling one of those roles herself. 

Hall said she "decided to make a change" in the finance and administration division. Anita Lockridge, who served as vice president for finance and administration, is "no longer with college," Hall said in an email. 

"Effectively managing the precious resources that are entrusted to us is critical to the College’s continued success," Hall said. "With this tremendous responsibility in mind, I have evaluated the Finance and Administration Division’s leadership strategies and activities and have decided to make a change."

She appointed Associate Vice President for Fiscal Operations Michael Neal as interim vice president for finance and administration, effective immediately.

"I am confident in Mr. Neal’s abilities to keep the college moving forward as we search for a new vice president," Hall said. 

She'll take on a more hands-on role with academics herself, however. 

Vice President for Academic Affairs Christopher Ezell is retiring at the end of February, Hall said. 

Hall, while continuing as president, will also serve as the interim vice president for academic affairs, she said. 

The college's staff directory does not list an associate vice president for academic affairs.

Ezell's retirement "poses an excellent opportunity for me as a president to engage with faculty on a deeper level and work even more closely with them as we continue to transform the teaching and learning experience at Southwest," Hall said. 

Hall was previously a vice president for academic affairs at St. Louis Community College and associate dean of instruction at Metropolitan Community College. 

When Hall arrived at Southwest three years ago, she committed to going department by department to make sure the right staff was in place. 

"We have seen tremendous gains in enrollment and graduation rates and have removed significant barriers and threats to student success," Hall said in her email. "However, there are times when such great change and bodacious goal-setting require leadership adjustments. This is such a time."

Reach Jennifer Pignolet at jennifer.pignolet@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @JenPignolet.