March 13, 2025
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – After a nationwide search that brought forth a pool of highly qualified candidates, Dr. Tony Miksa has been selected to serve as Johnson County Community College’s next President. The College’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved Dr. Miksa during the board’s regular meeting on March 13, 2025.
Board Chair and Presidential Search Committee Chair Melody Rayl says, “Dr. Tony Miksa is a proven leader who has demonstrated a commitment to Johnson County Community College’s mission, vision, and values. Dr. Miksa’s experience uniquely positions him to lead JCCC as we continue to transform lives, strengthen communities, and inspire student learning and success. The Board of Trustees is confident Dr. Miksa has the integrity and expertise to serve in this critically important role.”
Dr. Miksa currently serves as President of Walters State Community College in Morristown, TN, and has over 20 years of experience in higher education.
Prior to his role as President at Walters State Community College, Dr. Miksa served as Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at McHenry County College. He has also held leadership positions, including Dean of Math, Science and Health Professions and Dean of Mathematics, Science, Education and Health at both Elgin Community College and Kishwaukee College. Earlier in Dr. Miksa’s career, he served as a tenured Mathematics Instructor at Kishwaukee College.
In addition to his professional endeavors, Dr. Miksa is the Chair of the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Board in Lakeway, Tennessee. He has also served as Chair of the Morristown Chamber of Commerce and was actively involved with the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, both in Tennessee. He received multiple awards, including the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) President’s Paragon Award for new presidents and Mount Mercy College Distinguished Alumni Award.
Dr. Miksa holds a Doctor of Education, Community College Leadership from National Louis University, a Master of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Northern Iowa, a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Mount Mercy College, and an Associate of Arts in Mathematics from Kishwaukee College.
Presidential Search Process
In December 2023, former JCCC President Dr. Andy Bowne announced his resignation. During a special board meeting on January 3, 2024, Dr. Judy Korb was appointed as interim College President by the JCCC Board of Trustees.
During the Fall of 2024, JCCC announced it would launch a nationwide search for the next College President with the assistance of the consulting firm Academic Search. The firm has conducted more than 2,400 successful searches for college presidents, chancellors, provosts, vice presidents, and deans in a variety of disciplines.
The College also established an 11-member Presidential Search Committee to help select candidates and guide the Presidential search process.
In September 2024, the College held community-wide listening sessions for JCCC stakeholders and community partners to share thoughts about the characteristics, accomplishments, and experiences the ideal Presidential candidates should bring to the position. The input provided helped to develop a “Search Profile” for the position, which was posted in October 2024.
The Search Committee interviewed semifinalists in January 2025, after which the Search Committee identified three finalists, who visited JCCC’s main campus in February 2025. Each finalist candidate participated in community open forums where the candidate made a short presentation and answered questions about their experiences and leadership style. After each forum, attendees were encouraged to share their feedback about the candidates through an online survey.
After thoughtful consideration of their respective experiences and abilities, seeking input from various professional references, and reviewing feedback from College stakeholders, Dr. Miksa was selected as the next JCCC President. He will start on July 1, 2025.
About JCCC
JCCC embraces a mission of inspiring learning to transform lives and strengthen communities, a direction that has endured since the College opened its doors in 1969. The President of the College reports directly to a seven-member governing board whose members are elected at large and serve four-year terms. The College is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and committed to offering accessible, high quality education from a main campus and multiple satellite locations. JCCC is devoted to enriching lives by meeting individual, community, and workforce needs in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Serving Johnson County, Kansas, and the entire Kansas City metropolitan area, JCCC supports the educational and career goals of students through more than 100 degree and certificate programs. Knowledgeable, dedicated faculty and staff work on behalf of more than 38,000 credit and continuing education students in a stimulating academic community.
CONTACT:
Emma Swinney
Public and Media Relations Coordinator
eswinne1@jccc.edu
913-469-8500, ext. 4949
Chris Gray
VP, Strategic Communications & Marketing
chrisgray@jccc.edu
913-469-8500, ext. 7623
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