TCC to inaugurate president on May 3

Edna V. Baehre-Kolovani, who became Tidewater Community College’s fifth president in July, will be inaugurated on May 3 at 1 p.m. at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.

The inauguration is the first of several events celebrating TCC’s 45 years in Hampton Roads. TCC was established in 1968 and has since grown to encompass four campuses, several regional education centers and a performing arts center. It serves nearly 47,000 students.

Glenn DuBois, chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, will officially install the president and present her with TCC’s mace and medallion. Stuart Steiner, president emeritus of Genesee (N.Y.) Community College and a mentor and colleague of Baehre-Kolovani’s, will present his personal reflections about the president.

During her inaugural address, Baehre-Kolovani will share her ideas on the meaning of education and the power of servant leadership and discuss TCC’s depth and breadth of programs.

“It’s an honor for me to lead one of the most dynamic community colleges in the nation,” Baehre-Kolovani said. “As we observe our 45th anniversary this year, I am dedicated to sustaining TCC’s excellence and ensuring its future.”

The inauguration will be streamed live to TCC’s campuses in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. Students, faculty and staff are invited to share in the event on campuses or at the Convention Center.

Invited guests include college presidents from across the Commonwealth, members of the State Board for Community Colleges, the TCC College Board, and the TCC Educational Foundation and Real Estate boards. Elected officials at the city and state levels as well as local school representatives have also been invited.

Baehre-Kolovani came to TCC from California, where she was president and superintendent of Napa Valley College. For 13 years, she was president of Harrisburg (Pa.) Area Community College.

Baehre-Kolovani holds doctorate and a master’s degrees in German and comparative literature from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Pädagogische Hochschule in Heidelberg, Germany. She is trilingual in English, German and French and is acquiring Spanish proficiency.

TowneBank is the presenting sponsor of the Forty-Fifth Celebration and Inauguration. Sponsors are Barnes & Noble at TCC, Noah Enterprises, Inc., Sentara Healthcare and STIHL, Inc.