Contact: Sharon Fisher
August 24th, 2009

MECC’s president announces retirement

   Terrance E. Suarez, President of Mountain Empire Community College, informed his faculty and staff and local board members that he plans to retire at the end of this current academic year, June, 2010.
   Suarez became president of MECC in January, 2002.  As president, one of his priorities is working with area school systems to improve existing partnerships and develop joint projects that address the changing needs of students in the region. 
   “I am most pleased,” said Suarez, “to have worked with local school superintendents to make dual enrollment affordable for our young people.”  In addition, “The AIMS Higher Scholarship is providing a tuition-free education at MECC, and our partnership with UVA-Wise is extending this benefit to a four-year education.”
   Dr. Suarez, a native of Florida, holds a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Kansas.  In 1972, he moved to Virginia for a post-doctoral appointment at Virginia Commonwealth University. He became a founding faculty member and the first chemistry instructor at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond in 1973.
   His work in southwest Virginia began in 1979 when he became the Division Chair of Allied Health and Science at Wytheville Community College; moving to the position of Vice President of Instruction and Student Services in 1994, and serving as acting president during the fall term on 1999.
   Since moving to Mountain Empire Community College, Suarez has remained active in regional and national education, economic development and civic groups, serving on the Board of the Virginia Economic Bridge and the Board of Directors for the Wise County Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Workforce Network, the Cove Ridge Center Foundation, Pro-Art, Lonesome Pine Arts & Crafts, the Southwest Virginia Manufacturing Technology Council, Wellmont Lonesome Pine Hospital, Southwest Virginia Workforce Investment Board, and the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science.
   Suarez is active in the Kiwanis Club of Big Stone Gap, the Lee County Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Coalfield Coalition, and many other local and regional organizations.  He was recently presented the Distinguished Service Award from the Wytheville Kiwanis Club. 
   Reflecting on his stay at MECC, Suarez stated, “There are really good people at MECC and in the community.   We have challenges but also opportunities.  Coming to work with them in this far, southwestern region of the Commonwealth is one of the best decisions I’ve made.”  

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