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Redwing Named Interim President Of Modesto Junior College
Dr. Chad Redwing
Taking the reins as Interim President for Modesto Junior College will be Dr. Chad Redwing, a longtime instructor at MJC, who will assume his new position on Monday, Feb. 6. Photo Contributed

Dr. Chad Redwing, a longtime instructor at Modesto Junior College, has accepted an offer to serve as its Interim President, the Yosemite Community College District announced in late January. He will assume his new position on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023.

Redwing has been a professor of humanities at MJC and coordinator of its Institute for Applied Creativity and Community Transformation (ACCT) since August 2005. Prior to his tenure at MJC, Redwing served as the Executive Director of Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School, a grades 6-12 state charter in New Mexico. He was responsible for transformational changes to the organization, culminating in the charter school eventually being named one of the best in the nation by US News and World Report magazine. At MJC, Redwing has served as President of the Faculty Academic Senate and also as co-leader in the accreditation preparation effort that is on-going on campus.

“I am glad that Dr. Redwing has agreed to serve as the Interim President,” said YCCD Chancellor Henry Yong. “Due to his many years of experience at MJC, he has institutional knowledge and understands the mission of the college. I look forward to working closely with him to close out the spring semester and academic year.”

Redwing said he is gratified to have this opportunity to serve the college and district at a crucial time.

“MJC has accomplished many great things in its past hundred years,” he said. “It is important that we share the good news and continue the great work that has been happening. We’ll build on the past as we continue to serve our students while preparing for the future.”

Redwing has 22 years of academic experience in higher education, including:

• Instructor at CSU Stanislaus in the Honors Program.

• Founding member and volunteer of Fourth World Cooperative Publications & Learning Consortium, a nonprofit organization.

• Professor/Dean of the Graduate College at Harrison Middleton University in Tempe, AZ.

• Education consultant at Arizona State University.

Redwing earned a doctorate of philosophy in higher education and master of arts degree in humanities from the University of Chicago, and a bachelor of arts in interdisciplinary humanities and a minor in history from Arizona State University.

Yong said Redwing will lead the campus during the search for a full-time MJC President. Recruitment is expected to begin in March.

Redwing already has announced that he will not be an applicant for the permanent President position, saying that he hopes that decision “sends the message that the opportunity will completely be open, and no one has an unfair advantage in applying for the position.”

Redwing was one of several internal candidates who applied to be MJC’s Interim President. A committee comprised of MJC faculty, other constituent groups and a community member reviewed the applications and recommended a list of finalists to Yong.

Cecil Russell, a member of the community who served on the interim search committee, noted that the search for the Interim President was fair, and that he had an opportunity to work collegially with representatives from different constituent groups from MJC. “It’s a great group of folks working together to be part of the solution.”

Yong added that “just as the search for the Interim President was open and transparent, the search for the permanent President will be as well.”

He expects that the search committee for the permanent position to be formed in late February or early March.

Redwing replaces Dr. Santanu Bandyopadhyay, whose contract was not renewed after 18 months. Yong has filled in as MJC’s Acting President since Jan. 14.