Retirement awaits for Flint Hills Technical College President Dean Hollenbeck.
The college’s longtime leader is officially retiring at the end of the month and discussed his tenure during his final Tech Talk on KVOE’s Morning Show on Tuesday. Hollenbeck says time with family lies ahead.
During his 15 years at the helm, Hollenbeck oversaw several construction projects, ranging from the Jones Education Center as part of connections involving USD 253 Emporia and Kansas State University to the recently completed upgrades to the Hospitality and Culinary Arts departments as well as the new Welding Technology Center in southwest Emporia. He also oversaw the move of certain programs to the Humanitarian Center, presided over a significant growth in fundraising as evidenced by the Foundation’s annual gala and — up until the coronavirus pandemic — saw a string of enrollment records.
Hollenbeck says the college’s success is connected to the campus staff and the programs serving the state.
Hollenbeck supplanted Lee Alderman, who resigned in 2005 and ultimately became director of the Emporia Rescue Mission in 2008. Hollenbeck’s education career started as an agriculture instructor in Lenapah, Oklahoma, in 1974. He He then served at Colorado Northwestern Community College and the Colorado Community College system in Denver. Before starting his education career, Hollenbeck received his bachelor’s degree in ag education from Oklahoma State University and both his master’s and doctorate in vocational education administration from Colorado State University.
The college’s Board of Trustees picked Dr. Caron Daugherty as Hollenbeck’s replacement. Daugherty comes to Emporia after having previously served as Vice Chancellor of Instruction at Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City, MO.
