By Southside Virginia Community College
With the start of a new semester fast approaching, Southside Virginia Community College announces new appointments in the positions of provost and dean of instruction for both the Christanna and John H. Daniel campuses.
Dr. Alfred A. Roberts has been named provost for the Christanna Campus upon the retirement of Dr. John J. Sykes, Jr. Dr. Roberts was formally provost for the Daniel Campus and is succeeded by Dr. Paula Gastenveld, former dean of instruction for the Daniel Campus.
Dr. Elizabeth P. Elam is interim dean of instruction for the Daniel Campus, and Dr. Chad Patton is interim dean of instruction for Christanna Campus. He was formerly dean of planning and institutional effectiveness and succeeds Tom Wisbey, the former dean of instruction, who retired in July 2012.
Each of the new appointees has many years of experience within the Virginia Community College System or other systems to bring to the table.
Dr. John J. Cavan noted, "Although there are changes afoot at our college, each administrator has proven their worth in other positions and our college has confidence in their ability to improve upon the college's positive impact on the college and the community."
Roberts is a native of Emporia who served as Daniel Campus Provost since July of 2009. Prior to that appointment, he was vice president of Workforce Services and Continuing Education for SVCC. He also served numerous other capacities at SVCC including dean of off-campus instruction, director of the Campus Without Walls and Student Support Services and counselor of the Student Support Services. He received his bachelor's degree in mass communications from Michigan State University, his Masters in Educational Media from Virginia State University and his Ph.D. in community college leadership from Old Dominion University. He received a certificate from the Institute for Educational Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Gastenveld came to Southside Virginia Community College in June 2010 from the Kentucky Community and Technical College System where she had been a college president in Owensboro for two years. From 2003 through 2007, Gastenveld was the provost of the West Campus of Valencia Community College in Orlando, Fl. She has held progressively responsible positions in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Kentucky since teaching at Paducah Community College in the early 1980s.
She received her Bachelor of Science degree with a major in dental hygiene from the University of Kentucky, her Master of Science degree in occupational safety from Murray State University in Kentucky, and her Doctorate of Education from Vanderbilt University.
She began her postsecondary education at Henderson Community College in Kentucky. One of seven children, she believes that she would not have been able to attend college if not for the community college in her hometown.
Elam has been associate professor of English at SVCC's Daniel Campus since 2003. She has taught as an adjunct professor at Longwood University and was a school teacher in Appomattox, Amelia, Henrico and Roanoke Public Schools. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Randolph-Macon Woman's College and her Masters in English Education from University of Virginia. She received her Ed.D. in Teaching and Learning from University of Virginia also. She resides in Pamplin.
Lastly, Dr. R. Chad Patton of South Hill has begun his new duties at SVCC also. Before becoming dean of planning and institutional effectiveness in 2000, he was program head for administration of justice and associate professor at SVCC.
A graduate of Virginia Highlands Community College, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Radford University and his Masters in sociology from Longwood University. He received his PH.D. in community college leadership.
SVCC prides itself on being a comprehensive community college offering education to anyone in the region who can benefit from its programs and services.
Each of the new administrators bring vast knowledge of the college's mission and experience to assure that the goals of the college are met.
