Potter named next JWCC President

By Editor | January 15, 2026 |

In a unanimous vote during a special meeting on January 7, the JWCC Board of Trustees selected Dr. Aron Potter (left) as the College’s eighth president. Potter will assume the role on March 2. Potter is shown here with current JWCC Interim President Josh Welker. (Submitted photo)

By DAVID CAMPHOUSE

In a unanimous vote during a special meeting on January 7, the JWCC Board of Trustees selected Dr. Aron Potter as the College’s eighth president, concluding a months‑long national search shaped heavily by local insight. Potter will assume the role on March 2.
Potter succeeds interim president Josh Welker, who stepped into the position in July 2025 following the departure of former president Dr. Bryan Renfro. According to a press release provided by JWCC, Board Chair Bob Rhea said trustees were united in their confidence that Potter is the right leader to guide the College into its next chapter.
“We are proud to welcome Dr. Potter back to the region she calls home and look forward to collaborating with her as the College’s new leader,” Rhea said in the press release. “Selecting a president is the Board’s most important job, and we feel that Aron is ready to authentically serve our students and communities with foresight, fortitude, and heart.”
While the presidential search was led by the Pauly Group, a national firm specializing in academic leadership recruitment, Pike County voices help guide the search process.
The 12‑member Selection Advisory Committee was co‑chaired by two Pike County residents—Trustees Paula Hawley‑Sargent and Andy Sprague—whose firsthand understanding of Pike County’s workforce realities and educational needs helped shape the search criteria and candidate evaluation.
Their leadership ensured that the process reflected not only the College’s institutional priorities but also the economic and training needs of Pike County and other rural portions of JWCC’s district.
Rhea expressed gratitude for the many stakeholders who invested time, expertise, and experience in the process. “We are grateful to Paula Hawley and Andy Sprague for co‑chairing the effort on the Board’s behalf, to the Pauly Group for conducting our search, to the Selection Advisory Committee for their commitment to identifying the best leader for JWCC, and to our faculty, staff, and students who thoughtfully shared their feedback.”
Potter attended the January 7 meeting and shared her gratitude for the opportunity to return to the region where she grew up.
“I am humbled and grateful for the Board’s belief in me to lead John Wood Community College,” Potter said. “Returning to this area means I have the amazing opportunity to give back to the people and communities who invested in me as a person and professional.”
Potter brings more than two decades of experience across high school, community college, and university settings. For the past 10 years, she has served as Vice President for Academic Services at Coffeyville Community College in southeast Kansas, overseeing accreditation, academic program evaluation, and a wide range of student support services.
Potter’s professional background also includes faculty and coaching roles at Culver‑Stockton College, as well as instructional positions at the University of Central Missouri and Missouri Southern State University. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from North Central University, a master’s degree in physical education and sport science from the University of Central Missouri, and a bachelor’s degree from Culver‑Stockton College.
Potter remains active in national and regional higher‑education organizations, including serving as a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission and participating in multiple academic leadership councils.
Potter stated that her upbringing on a farm near Vandalia, Missouri, shaped her understanding of the communities JWCC serves.
“That community is much like Coffeyville and John Wood’s district,” Potter said. “It is made up of hard‑working people who want common‑sense leaders who care. I’m one of those leaders and will build a team to help our students find their path to a promising career, whether it is through the trades or a four‑year degree.”