Prince William Sound College Director Search
by Jessica Young |
Prince William Sound College is pleased to welcome three finalists for the Director position. Each candidate will participate in campus visits, meet with faculty, staff, students, and community members, and participate in open forums as part of the search process. We invite the PWSC community to learn more about each candidate below and participate in the upcoming campus visit activities.
Matthew Hisrich, Ph.D.
Campus Visit: Thursday, August 6
Dr. Matt Hisrich’s career has never followed a straight, predictable line, and that is exactly what has shaped his approach to leadership. He is just as comfortable analyzing enrollment data for a college cabinet as he is leading operations at the Quonset Hut, a beloved, family-owned retro store in Canton, Ohio. At his core, Matt is a community builder who believes that mission-driven leadership and operational excellence go hand in hand.
A deep commitment to education and service anchors Matt’s professional journey. During his tenure as Dean of the Earlham School of Religion and Vice President of Earlham College, he helped guide the institution through a period of significant change by aligning new academic programs with students’ vocational interests and strengthening the school’s strategic direction. These efforts contributed to doubling enrollment during a time of institutional transition. Throughout his career, his focus has remained the same: creating environments where students, faculty, and staff can thrive. He is especially drawn to the mission of community colleges, viewing them as engines of opportunity and essential anchors within their communities.
Beyond higher education, Matt gained valuable operational experience helping lead his family's business following the unexpected death of his father. Managing the Quonset Hut strengthened his practical understanding of budgeting, personnel leadership, customer service, and community engagement while reinforcing the importance of adaptability during times of change. He now brings that perspective to his work at Hiram College, where he supports institutional research, planning, and student success initiatives.
While his professional credentials - including a Doctor of Management and a Master of Divinity - reflect his interest in ethical leadership and organizational development, Matt believes the best leaders never stop learning. He enjoys collaborating with colleagues, exploring new ideas, and finding practical solutions to complex challenges. Outside of work, he enjoys reading, collecting comics, traveling, hiking, and one particularly unusual hobby: finding forgotten thrift store paintings and adding his own artistic twist before sending them back into the world.
Whether exploring a new city, visiting a local park, or discovering an offbeat museum with his family, Matt enjoys learning from new places and the people who call them home. That sense of curiosity has shaped both his personal life and his leadership style. He looks forward to visiting Valdez, getting to know the Prince William Sound College community, and learning how his experience in collaborative leadership, strategic planning, and community engagement might contribute to the college's next chapter.
Narren J. Brown, Ph.D.
Campus Visit: Monday, August 10
Dr. Narren J. Brown is an accomplished higher education executive currently serving as the Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Success at Central Lakes College. With nearly two decades of progressive leadership experience spanning community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and universities, his career includes key administrative roles such as Director of Institutional Effectiveness at Barton County Community College, as well as Vice President of Research and Institutional Effectiveness and Dean of the Faribault Campus at South Central College. Prior to entering higher education leadership, he acquired extensive operational management experience over a decade in the restaurant and hotel industries.
Dr. Brown holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and a Master of Arts in Political Science from Iowa State University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Luther College and an Associate of Arts from Northeast Iowa Community College.
Throughout his career, Dr. Brown has established a track record in strategic enrollment management, institutional research, continuous improvement, and accreditation, regularly serving as a presidential proxy, cabinet member, and active civic leader on local community boards. Outside of his executive responsibilities, he enjoys reading, writing poetry, and maintaining an active physical workout regimen.
Cal Cross
Campus Visit: Tuesday, August 11
Cal has over 30 years of management experience. He is currently the Dean of Wenatchee Valley College’s Omak Campus, where he serves on several non-profit boards, conducts community, industry, and K-12 outreach, and advises Student Government in addition to other duties. He currently serves on the President's Cabinet, the district-wide Budget Committee, Student Affairs and Instruction Leadership teams, and the Strategic Enrollment Growth Task Force. Cal previously served as the Director of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Kuskokwim Campus in Bethel, where he was responsible for all aspects of campus operations and functions.
Prior to UAF, Cal worked for many years in public libraries, having served as the director of the Haines Borough Public Library in Haines, Alaska, at Carmel Clay Public Library in Carmel, Indiana, and at Wood Buffalo Regional Library in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. He has additional higher education experience in teaching faculty and administrative roles at Florida State University, Greenville Technical College in South Carolina, and Clemson University. Cal has a Master of Library Science degree from the University of Maryland College Park and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong Campus.
Cal is an avid volunteer and helps out in his local community wherever he can, most recently by coordinating donations for those impacted by wildfires in Okanogan County and the Colville Reservation. His hobbies include cooking, fishing, singing, logic puzzles, rooting for the Braves, and making fun of the Mets.
As Prince William Sound College conducts the search for its next Director, the Search Committee values the input and engagement of our students, faculty, staff, College Advisory Council, and community members.
The Prince William Sound College Director Search Committee was appointed by the University of Alaska Anchorage Chancellor and is comprised of the following members:
Shannon Stites – Co-Chair, Director Search Committee; Assistant Director of Academic
& Student Affairs, Prince William Sound College
Brian Partridge – Co-Chair, Director Search Committee; Director, Kachemak Bay Campus
Katie Bobowski – Copper Basin Extension Center Coordinator
Dr. Teresa Barton – Adult Education Coordinator
Dr. Stanley Herman – Assistant Professor of Anthropology
Spencer Heston – Assistant Professor of Millwright