The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education Executive Committee, serving as the search committee for the CHE’s next President and Executive Director, announced today the names of four candidates who have been selected for consideration.
The candidates are (in alphabetical order):
- Dr. Ronnie L. Booth retired in 2019 as President of Tri-County Technical College. During his sixteen years at Tri-County, Dr. Booth launched three community campuses, three Workforce Training Centers, an Economic Development Center, and a state-of-the-art Industrial Technology Center. In addition, he led the establishment of several groundbreaking initiatives, including the nationally recognized Bridge to Clemson program with Clemson University and the Connect to College program for high school dropouts. Since retiring from TCTC, he has worked part-time for a regional architectural firm in business development and as interim executive director for a non-profit community development organization. During his tenure, he served in numerous professional associations, civic groups, and State and national boards. He also is a former member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and former chair of the AACC Finance Committee, Leadership South Carolina Board of Directors and its past chair, and Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Booth holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, a master’s in education in Student Personnel Services, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Policies from the University of South Carolina. He also holds a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Clemson University and an Honorary Doctorate in Education from Piedmont University in Georgia.
- Dr. Christopher J. Hall has had a distinguished career in higher education administration and community service for over twenty years. Dr. Hall is currently the Interim Director of Enrollment Management and Records at Morris College, initially serving as the Management Specialist. Dr. Hall has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to advancing educational opportunities. Prior to his current role, Dr. Hall was the Interim President of Denmark Technical College. His tenure in academia includes serving as Dean of Business and Public Service and the Program Manager for the Criminal Justice Department at Central Carolina Technical College. Dr. Hall's career in education began at Denmark Technical College as a Criminal Justice Technology Instructor, following his service as a correctional officer with the South Carolina Department of Corrections. He also served as a Reserve Deputy with the Richland County Sheriff's Department and as a Sergeant in the Provost Marshal's Command of the South Carolina State Guard.
Dr. Hall holds a Doctorate from the University of Maryland University College, a Master's in Public Administration /Criminal Justice from Jacksonville State University, a Certificate in Higher Education Administration, and a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina.
- John Payne began his career in Washington, DC as an aide to Senator Strom Thurmond advising on regulatory matters and serving constituents in solving problems with government. In 2021 he returned to his hometown of Darlington, South Carolina as city manager where he redesigned verification and enforcement processes, helped rebuild its water and sewer system, increased employee wages to market rates, and significantly enhanced relations with local stakeholders, legislators, and federal and state officials. Payne has also served clients and firms as a financial advisor, a company controller, a hospital financial manager, a staff accountant to a CPA firm, and led two departments for Beaufort County Council. John is an expert in budgeting, financial and policy analysis, evaluating agency operations, and developing and implementing corrective action plans with a proven record of achievement in restoring employee relations. In 2013, John became the first elected board chairman of a new public charter school in Beaufort, South Carolina, and was later appointed by the Speaker of the House to serve on the South Carolina Public Charter School Board of Trustees where he was elected chairman by his peers.
He holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and business economics from Francis Marion University, a master’s degree in public policy from Regent University, and an MBA from The Citadel (Beta Gamma Sigma).
- Dr. L. Jeffrey Perez has 25 years of higher education leadership in three states, including 16 years in South Carolina. He is currently president and CEO of South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, where he oversees advocacy, fundraising and campus support initiatives on behalf of SCICU’s 21 member institutions and 36,000 students. Before his leadership of SCICU he was Winthrop University’s vice president for university relations, and he also served as vice president for external affairs at The Citadel as well as executive director for Communications and Government Affairs at Shawnee State University in Ohio. Dr. Perez’s leadership positions also include director of public affairs for the Charter Schools Institute of the State University of New York, and director of research and government relations representative for the New York State School Boards Association. He has chaired the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities – State Executives and sat on NAICU’s Board of Directors. He currently serves on the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s Education and Workforce Development Committee and is a Furman University Riley Fellow.
Dr. Perez holds a Ph.D. in American history from the College of William and Mary. He earned a master’s degree from Binghamton University and a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service degree from Georgetown University.
Please click here to view the full candidate bios as submitted during the application process.
Interviews with the finalists will continue this week. Wes Hayes, Chair of the CHE Board of Commissioners, expressed his enthusiasm about the finalists.
"We are pleased with the caliber of final candidates our search committee has identified. Each of them brings a wealth of experience, innovative ideas, and a deep commitment to the mission of the CHE,” said Wes Hayes, Chair of the CHE Board of Commissioners. “We are confident that the next President and Executive Director will be well-equipped to lead the Commission in its ongoing efforts to provide high quality, workforce relevant and affordable higher education for all South Carolinians."
Dr. Gregory Little has served as acting president and executive director in a temporary capacity beginning March 4; he is leaving the CHE to become president of Midlands Technical College.