An administrator from a Minnesota community college has been recommended to be the first woman president at a western Massachusetts community college.
The board of trustees at Holyoke Community College has picked Christina Royal to become just the fourth president in the school’s history and the first woman to hold the post.
Chairman of the board Robert Gilbert said Royal has an impressive background in helping minorities, raising funds for scholarships and working with local employers on skills training.
" We are very pleased we were able to find a candidate who matched up so well with what we were looking for," Gilbert said in an interview.
Royal’s appointment is subject to a confirmation vote by the state Board of Higher Education on Nov. 29th.
She would succeed William Messner who is retiring after 12 years as HCC president.
