Governance

Welcome to MVCC

Randall VanWagonerWelcome to Mohawk Valley Community College! 

Whether you chose MVCC as a starting point for your education or as a vehicle to further your career, we are unwaveringly dedicated to your success. Our faculty, staff, and trustees are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment where all students can feel safe to learn and grow during their time with us.  MVCC has been changing lives with exceptional academic programs, activities, support, and athletics for more than 75 years, and we are perpetually looking forward. In a rapidly changing world, we recognize the importance of not only keeping up, but staying ahead of economic and societal trends, keeping our programs current and classes relevant to best prepare you for what the future holds.

About the President - Randall J. VanWagoner, Ph.D.

Randall J. “Randy” VanWagoner, Ph.D., serves as the fifth president of Mohawk Valley Community College – a position he has held since July 1, 2007. Dr. VanWagoner came to MVCC after serving as the chief academic officer at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Neb., and the chief student affairs officer at Red Rocks Community College in Golden, Colo. He served as chair of the New York Community Colleges Association of Presidents from 2015-2019. He has been instrumental in the development of the national Strategic Horizons Network of community colleges and serves as the co-facilitator of the Network focused on learning about disruptive innovation and vibrant organizational cultures outside of higher education.

He received his M.A and Ph.D. from the Higher Education program at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor; earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Oakland University in Rochester, Mich.; and was a two-sport athlete at Mott Community College in Flint, Mich. He and his wife Jennifer have two daughters and live in New Hartford.

Education

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, Mich.
Doctorate of Philosophy: Higher Education Administration
Master of Arts: Community College Administration

Oakland University – Rochester, Mich.
Bachelor of Arts
Major: Communications
Minor: Business Management

Mott Community College – Flint, Mich.
Major: Liberal Arts

Post-Graduate Training & Development

Strategic Horizon Network
Bi-annual colloquium focused on strategic thinking
(2001-2006; 2008-present)

Community College Workforce Consortium
Bi-annual colloquium focused on workforce development
(Co-Chair 2023-2024);  (Member 2019-2024) 

Human Skills.ak
30-Day AI Agility Challenge certificate of completion
(January, 2025)

Aspen Institute Fellowship for Experienced Presidents
One of 25 community college presidents selected for year-long experience (2022-2024)

Vanderbilt University – Coursera Platform
AI Prompt engineering for ChatGPT course certificate of completion
(March, 2024)

Harvard University – Cambridge, MA
Seminar for Experienced Presidents
(Fall, 2016)

Professional Experience

Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica, N.Y.
President (2007 - Present)

Strategic Horizon Network- mvcc.edu/shn
Co-Facilitator (2016 - Present)

University of Colorado-Denver
Adjunct Professor of Practice (2022)
Guest Lecturer (2020 - Present)

Hamilton College, Clinton, N.Y.
Guest Lecturer (2016, 2018, 2019, 2021)

Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, Neb.
Vice President for Learning and Academic Affairs (1999 - 2007)
Adjunct Faculty (Information Technology) (Fall 2004)

Red Rocks Community College, Lakewood, Colo.
Dean of Educational Support (1997-1999)    
Registrar/ Director of Research & Planning (1996-1997)
Director of Institutional Research & Planning (1994-1996)
Adjunct Faculty (Information Technology) (Spring/Fall 1998, Spring 1999)

Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Research Analyst (1992 - 1994)

Honors

CEO/President of the Year Award  - Northeast Region  (2024)
Recipient of annual award from the Association of Community College Trustees for exemplary leadership of community colleges.

Community Partner Award (2024) 
Recipient of annual award from the ARC Oneida-Lewis recognizing commitment to creative partnership for a CollegeWorks workforce program for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Genesis Group Carucci Legacy Award (2022)
One of four recipients for community leadership.

Community Leadership Award (2019)
Recipient of annual award from Boy Scouts of America - Revolutionary Trails Council for community leadership efforts

Community Vision Award (2015)
Recipient of annual award from NAACP - Utica Chapter for community leadership efforts

Corporate Trainer and Organizational Consultant (2023-Present)

  • Non-Profit Sector – Facilitated organizational climate assessments and strategic planning facilitation for multiple organizations.
  • Private Sector – Presented in-person and virtual leadership workshops for teams in banking and manufacturing.

Co-Facilitator – Strategic Horizon Network (2016-Present) 
Organize robust and creative agendas for a network of seven community college to meet twice a year for colloquia focused on disruptive innovation and strategic thinking for team-based learning with a focus on emerging trends outside of higher education to inform strategy for member colleges.

Executive Coach (2014-2018, 2021-present)
Provide monthly coaching to community college and K-12 executives.

Leadership Traits to Drive Change
SUNY Guided Pathways Leadership Academy, w/K. Duffy. February 7, 2025.

Co-Creating a Connected and Postively-Energized Culture
All-college meeting, Mid-Plains Community College, invited keynote, North Platte, NE, October 4, 2024  (Leading Positive Cultural Change – administrative workshop).

Moving From the Middle: Advancing Guided Pathways – against the odds
SUNY Guided Pathways Leadership Academy, invited keynote, July 18, 2024

Making Residence Life the Gateway to Your Professional Future
SUNY Residence Life and Housing Administrators, invited keynote, Verona, NY, February 28, 2024.

Embracing Disruption
Suny Oneonta, Strategic Planning Kickoff, invited keynote, August 26, 2023

Principles for Leading Change Systems Tools:  A blueprint for higher education change
SUNY SAIL Leadership Institute, invited keynote, Hamilton, NY, August 3, 2023

Moving From the Middle: Advancing Guided Pathways – against the odds
SUNY Guided Pathways Leadership Academy, invited keynote, July 18, 2023

Becoming the Disruptor: Disrupting yourself in a VUCA environment
Mountain States Association of Community Colleges, invited keynote, July 7, 2023

Disrupting Ourselves to Increase Student Success in a VUCA World
Metropolitan Community College, June 9, 2023

Nurturing a Connected Culture in Turbulent Times: Finding leverage for change
Erie Community College senior team retreat, invited virtual keynote, February 8, 2023

Understanding Change to Lead With Empathy in a VUCA World
Schenectady County Community College Leadership Academy, January 13, 2023

Scenario Planning – emotionally preparing for the future
Finger Lakes Community College, leadership retreat, invited keynote, August 6, 2023

Disruption in Turbulent Times: Principles for Leading Change
SUNY SAIL Summer Leadership Institute, Hamilton, NY, August 4, 2022

Co-Creating a Connected and Resilient Culture in Turbulent Times
All-College Keynote Plenary, Fulton-Montgomery Community College, April 14, 2022

Competing on Culture: Assessing & Nurturing Cultural Health
NY Student Success Center Coaches Academy, Virtual Training, June 17, 2021

Driving Change in Higher Education
SUNY SAIL Winter Leadership Institute, Albany, NY, February 25, 2021

Disruption and Transformation for Community Colleges
(Invited All-College (Virtual) Plenary Keynote), Greenfield Community College, November, 2020, Greenfield, MA.

Driving Change in Higher Education
(Virtual Workshop Presentation), SUNY SAIL Winter Leadership Institute, February, 2020

Future Focused | Change Ready | Culture Strong
(Invited All-College Plenary Keynote), Columbia Greene Community College, January, 2020, Hudson, NY.

Co-Creating a Connected Culture
(Invited All-College Plenary Keynote), SUNY Adirondack Community College, January, 2020, Queensbury, NY.

Leading in Uncertain Times
(Invited Conference Plenary Keynote), New York Student Personnel Association, October, 2019, Rochester, NY.

Creating a Culture of Connection & Anticipation
(Invited All-College Plenary Keynote), Suffolk Community College, October, 2019, Selden, NY.

Green River College – Auburn, WA
Made multiple presentations to Board of Trustees, administrators, and all-college convening focused on strategic thinking, change, organizational culture, and leadership.  August, 2019.

Finger Lakes Community College – Canandaigua, NY
Facilitated day-long workshop for administrative group focused on strategic thinking,  change, organizational culture, and leadership.  July, 2019.

Assessment as a Lever for Equity & Cultural Change
(Invited Conference Plenary Keynote), Assessment Association of New York, April, 2019, Saratoga Springs, NY.

Montgomery College – Rockville, Maryland  (2016, 2019)
Facilitated day-long (Virtual 2-hour, 2021) workshop for internal President’s Leadership Academy participants focused on innovation, change, and organizational culture.

Creating a Culture of Connection & Anticipation
(Invited All-College Plenary Keynote), Rockland Community College, January, 2019, Suffern, NY.

Agile Brain Emotional Assessment: Confronting the Student Mental Health Crisis
Association of Community College Trustees.  Concurrent session with T. Colon, L. King. October 26, 2024, Seattle, WA.

Transforming Dreams into Action: A fireside chat
Middle States Commission on Higher Education annual conference.  Invited panelist for closing plenary session. December 6, 2023, Philadelphia, PA.

Reimagining Approaches to Better Serve Adult Students
New York Community College Trustees annual conference.  (With MVCC Trustee T. Colon). November 4, 2023, Saratoga Springs, NY.

Disrupting Yourself to Create a New Enrollment Model for Adult Learners
Association of Community College Trustees.  Concurrent session with T. Colon, M. Ballinger, T. Green (Lorain CC). October 11, 2023, Las Vegas, NV.

Clarity Through Collaboration: Advancing Guided Pathways through distributed leadership
(With S. Crocker, A. Fried, L. Kahler, D. McDermott, S. Reynolds) New York Student Success Center Spring Virtual Convening, May, 2023.

Voluntary Fear Engagement – The power of scenario planning
Strategic Horizon Network Virtual Colloquium, November, 2022.

Making DEI Part of Your Organizational DNA
(With T. Colon, D. Mathis, T. Marshall). Association of Community College Trustees Fall Conference, October, 2022, New York City, NY.

Normalizing Board Culture to Lead in the New Normal
(With T. Colon, F. Dubeck). New York Community College Trustees Fall Conference, September, 2022, Saratoga Spring, NY.

Thriving in Disruption: Leveraging Little Bets for Uncomfortable Change
(With T. Colon). New York Community College Trustees Fall Conference, November, 2021, Saratoga Spring, NY.

Shaping Culture & Leveraging Small Bets to Implement Guided Pathways
SUNY Guided Pathways Institute #4, April, 2021, Virtual.

Pincus, J.D., VanWagoner, R., Colon, T.  An Image-Based Method for Assessing Student Emotional Well-Being Mohawk Valley Community College uses a new screening tool to support the complex realities of student needs.  Trustee Quarterly. Association of Community College Trustees. Fall, 2024, pp. 19-21.

VanWagoner, R., Armstrong, F., Thomas, T. (Forthcoming). The Future of Workforce Development. In Beyond the Brink: Recognizing and Reimagining the Reality and Promise of Community Colleges in a Post Pandemic World. M. Baston, M. Nettles, and B. Bridglall (Eds.). Emerald Group Publishing, London, UK.

Shults, C and VanWagoner, R. “Lessons from the Pandemic: The Urgency of Reinventing the Community College Business Model”, Teachers College Record, February 28, 2022. https://www.tcrecord.org ID Number: 23993, Date Accessed (March 1, 2022)

Tomanek, J., & VanWagoner, R. (2008, May/June). Taking learning seriously: A comprehensive adjunct faculty support system. The Adjunct Advocate: The Magazine for Adjunct College Educators, 22-29.

Achieving the Dream
AI Task Force (2024-present)

American Red Cross
Volunteer Blood Donor (1991-1994, 2001-present)

Boilermaker Road Race
Board of Directors (2013-present)
Executive Committee (2018-present)

Jobs for the Future
75 Million Network Founding Member Steering Committee (2024-Present)
Community College Workforce Consortium Co-Chair (2023-2024)
Policy Leadership Trust Board Member (2018-2023)
Career Navigation System Policy Task Force Trio Chair (2022)

Mohawk Valley EDGE
Board of Directors (2007-present)
Executive Committee (2007-2009, 2014-2016)

National Junior College Athletic Association Foundation Board
Board of Directors (2023-present)

New York Community Colleges Association of Presidents
Member (2007-present)
President (2015-2019)
Community College Promise Workgroup (2025-present)
Faculty Council on Community Colleges Liaison (2022-present)
Advocacy Committee (2021-present)
SUNY Shared Governance Award Committee (2019-present)
New York Student Success Center Advisory Board Chair (2019-present)
Chief Academic Officers Group Liaison (2014-2015)
Capital Funding Task Force (2009-2011)
American Graduation Initiative Task Force, Chair (2009-2010)
Website Task Force (2008-2009)

Strategic Horizon Network
Co-Facilitator (2016-present)
Coordinator of bi-annual colloquia programs for small network of community colleges focused on equity, disruptive innovation, and vibrant organizational cultures. (2016-present)

UpMobility Foundation
Board member (2023-present)

Utica First Insurance Company
Board Member (2019-present)
Audit Committee (2019-present), Chair (2024- present)
Succession Planning Committee (2019-present)