SLCC president is finalist for Florida post

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Three months shy of her third anniversary as Salt Lake Community College's (SLCC) first female president and CEO, Cynthia Bioteau is exploring other job prospects.

Bioteau, who became SLCC president in July 2005, is one of four candidates for the top post at Manatee Community College in Bradenton, Fla., near Tampa. Bioteau spent Monday and Tuesday meeting with college officials and the public on the college's three campuses in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and Venice, according to the college's Web site. She finished her visit early Tuesday evening after an interview with the college's board of trustees.

Bioteau, a New Hampshire native, accepted her current position with SLCC after being wooed by a Utah Board of Regents recruiter.

Bioteau did not return a call for comment, but her résumé reveals a professional community college administrator who doesn't remain in any job for too long. Prior to moving to Utah, Bioteau worked at Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, N.C., as chief academic officer from 2003 to June 2005. Before that, she was dean of developmental learning and academic support at Boston's Bunker Hill Community College from 2000-03. From 1996 to 2000, she worked as regional director and associate professor for instructional studies at New Hampshire Community Technical College.

Bioteau earned $89,000 in her North Carolina position; her current salary as president of SLCC is $190,643. Shortly before her 2006 inauguration, she was lavished with praise by SLCC Board of Trustees chair Dave Thomas. "She has great understanding of innovations and the energy to make [SLCC] one of the premier community colleges in the country," Thomas told The Tribune in a story published on April 9 that year.

Manatee Community College expects to announce its new president by April 30, according to its Web site. Current Manatee Community College President Sarah H. Pappasl retires June 30.

Also competing for the position are Scott Elliott, president of Meridian Community College, Meridian, Miss.; Lars Hafner, provost of St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg, Fla.; John Rosen, vice president of academic affairs at Manatee Community College; and Laurence Spraggs, president of Broome Community College at Binghamton, N.Y.

"She's done a tremendous job. The regents and the commissioners are very supportive of her," said Amanda K. Covington, communications director for the State Board of Regents. "Obviously we'd like to see her stay. Other than that, it would be premature to say more while this is still in process."

SLCC spokesman Joy Tlou said the college is not making any comments regarding Bioteau's job search until the process at Manatee Community College "is complete."