Atlanta — May 28, 2002

Dr. Richard J. Federinko, president of Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City, Ala., has been named president of Middle Georgia College in Cochran, Ga., by the Board of Regents and University System of Georgia Chancellor Thomas C. Meredith.

Federinko will assume his new post on July 1.

During his 28-year academic career Federinko has served as a professor and administrator for a variety of postsecondary institutions.

“We are pleased with Dr. Federinko’s breadth of experience in college administration,” Meredith commented. “His leadership should serve Middle Georgia College and the University System quite well. We look forward to his arrival.”

With 16 years of experience as president of two community colleges in Alabama, Federinko is no stranger to the issues he may well face at Middle Georgia College. Since assuming his current position at Chattahoochee Valley Community College in 1993, he has overseen a massive upgrade of technology and several major new construction projects. The public, two-year commuter institution had experienced financial problems for several years, but under Federinko’s leadership business operations have improved considerably. The college’s reactivated foundation has raised more than $540,000 over the last two years. Employee morale is high, despite a significant reduction in personnel undertaken as a cost-saving measure. Faculty diversity also has improved.

Prior to his current position, Federinko served as president of Southern Union State Junior College in Wadley, Ala., from 1986-1993. The state’s oldest junior college, Southern Union is a residential college with three campuses. Under Federinko’s leadership, enrollment increased from 1,650 students to more than 3,300 students, and the institution gained a new student center, library and classroom building. The college’s foundation raised approximately $550,000 during his last two years as president.

“I believe that the community college must reflect the needs of its community as well as its diversity,” Federinko told the MGC presidential search committee. “Employees must be dedicated to community services of all kinds and to economic development. We also must create partnerships and linkages with business and industry and service organizations, as well as all sectors of education, in order to build better communities.”

Before taking on a college presidency, Federinko served in a variety of administrative roles at different institutions, including:

• Dean of administrative services at James H. Faulkner State Junior College in Bay Minette Ala. (1984-1986);
• Chair of the Social Science Division and director of the Evening Division and off-campus centers (1982-1984), director of the Greenville Center (1981-1982), director of planning and institutional research (1979-1981), and psychology instructor (1979-1984), all at Lurleen B. Wallace State Junior College in Greenville, Ala.;
• Assistant to the vice president of student affairs and academic advisor at Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla. (1977-1979);
• Assistant dean of student affairs at Troy State University, Troy, Ala. (1976-1977); and
• Director of Alumni and Dill residence halls at Troy State (1971-1973).

During his tenure at Faulkner State, Federinko served as president of the Alabama College Association, an organization in which he is still involved as an executive committee member. He also is a past president of the Alabama College System Presidents Association, the Association of Alabama College Administrators and the Alabama Junior and Community College Conference, which he continues to serve as a board member.

Federinko holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management and a master’s in guidance and counseling from Troy State University, and a doctorate in higher education administration from Florida State University.

He and his wife, Patricia - also a college educator, currently teaching at Central Alabama Community College - have five children.

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