McGuire, who is 66, became president of SCC in November 1996. He is in his 20th year
as a community college president, having served previously as president of Owensboro
Community College in Kentucky from 1991-96. He was chief academic and student development
officer from 1985 to 1991 at the Community College of Aurora, Colorado. Before that,
he was assistant dean of instruction and director of off-campus centers at Parkersburg
Community College in West Virginia, where he also taught history for 14 years.
“Dr. McGuire's focus on the success of our students has not waivered,” said Pundmann.
“He possesses extraordinary organizational skills, a keen awareness of major influences
affecting community colleges and the rare ability to analyze, integrate and implement
plans and programs in the face of shrinking state budgets and booming enrollment.”
“McGuire, over his splendid career at SCC and to the whole field of community college
education, has established a very strong foundation for the college to continue its
educational growth for our St. Charles County citizens and businesses in the 21st
century," Pundmann said. “Many have found inspiration in McGuire's leadership; many
more will find a worthy example in his fine record.”
During McGuire's tenure SCC's enrollment has more than doubled, growing at a rate
twice that of the county's population increase. Under his leadership additional campus
acreage was acquired and two additional phases of construction have been completed,
resulting in the addition of five buildings that doubled the size of the campus.
Early in his tenure at SCC, McGuire advocated for an improved state transfer policy.
A resulting general education “transfer block” was approved in fall 2002, encouraging
more students to seek transfer degrees and reducing procedural problems.
In 2002 he spearheaded an innovative cooperative agreement between the college and
the area's two largest hospitals. This partnership gave the hospitals a larger hiring
pool of nursing graduates and annually enabled 16 additional ADN nursing students
to enter the program.
Under McGuire's leadership, the college has seen a number of advancements, including
exceptional student pass rates in professional career programs, increased campus safety
initiatives, free WiFi access throughout the campus, and eight national championships
in roller hockey.
Through the college's Workforce Development Department, college facilitated training
for area business and industry has greatly expanded. For the past three years, nearly
$3 million per year in job training funds have been awarded to St. Charles County
businesses through grants sponsored by the college.
SCC was a national and state leader in becoming a tobacco free campus in January
2007.
Locally, McGuire has served the St. Charles County Economic Development Council for
the past 14 years and currently serves as president of the EDC Board. He has been
active in the community with leadership roles in education, business, service and
charitable organizations. McGuire is a board member of the St. Louis Regional Commerce
and Growth Association (RCGA), and a board member and past president of Great Rivers
Greenway (Metropolitan Park and Recreation District). GRG is building a 600 mile,
connected trail and greenway system throughout the St. Louis-St Charles metropolitan
area.
McGuire holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in history from West Virginia
University and a Ph.D. from Florida State University. He and his wife, Edith, have
two children: Esther, who lives in Washington, D.C., and Michael, who lives in Columbia,
Mo. They have four grandchildren.
St. Charles Community College is a public, comprehensive two-year community college
with associate degrees and certificate programs in the arts, business, sciences, and
career-technical fields. SCC provides workforce training and community-based personal
and professional development as well as cultural, recreational and entertainment opportunities.
For more information, visit www.stchas.edu.
