Release Date: Monday, March 19, 2001
Olson "eloquent" advocate
Special to the Harrison Daily
Times
(reprinted by permission)
ORANGEBURG, S.C. – "It has been a good six years," Dr. Jeffery R. Olson said of his time as president of Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College in Orangeburg, S.C., but apparently he felt it was time for him to move on.
He was recently selected by the board of trustees of North Arkansas College in Harrison as its new president beginning July 1.
In announcing his acceptance of the new position, Olson emphasized that he plans to remain actively at OCTC’s helm until his departure date.
Olson became president of OCTC in June 1995 at a difficult time in the college’s history. He succeeded 23-year president M. Rudy Groomes, who retired in 1994. Groomes later pleaded guilty to using his office for personal gain and was fined.
Olson implemented financial and accountability reforms, reorganized the administrative structure and laid the groundwork for a new administrative building.
A tireless and eloquent advocate of OCTC, Olson relished opportunities to raise the college’s profile in the community and share relevant facts with political and business leaders and citizens.
Olson holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin and a Ph.D. in educational administration and community college leadership from the University of Texas at Austin.
He was a faculty member and managed the continuing education program at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau, Wis. He managed the continuing education program at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas.
More recently he was dean of occupational education and then vice president of instruction at Coastal Carolina Community College in Jacksonville, N.C.