Published on April 9th, 2025
Last modified April 9th, 2025 10:11 am
RICHMOND – (April 9, 2025) The State Board for Community Colleges has certified three finalists for the position of president at Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC), to succeed Dr. Victoria Sue Ratliff, who has served as Interim President at the College since January 1. Prior to that date, Dr. Tommy Wright served as SWCC President for six years before becoming Senior Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations at the VCCS System Office last October.
The SWCC presidential finalists, in alphabetical order, are Dr. Clinton Hayes of Somerset, Kentucky, Dr. Carl Smalls of Danville, Virginia, and Dr. Ashli Wilkins of Enterprise, Alabama.
They were among 63 applicants from across the nation who were considered for the SWCC post.
“Southwest Virginia Community College plays a pivotal role in supporting the people and economy of its region, and I am confident that this group of finalists will yield a president who will lead the college successfully in its next era of service,” said Dr. David Doré, Chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges.
The finalists seek to become the fourth permanent president at Southwest Virginia Community College. Arrangements are being made for each of the finalists to visit the college soon to meet with faculty, staff, students and community members.
About the finalists:
Dr. Clinton Hayes currently serves as Provost/Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs at Somerset Community College in Somerset, Kentucky, a post he has held since February 2019. Dr. Hayes has been affiliated with Somerset Community College since 2007 and has served as Interim Provost/Chief Academic Officer, Associate Provost/Chief Learning Officer, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs/Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and Director of Institutional Effectiveness & Research (Concurrent with Associate Dean of Academic Affairs). Dr. Hayes’ teaching experience includes Instructor, Biological Sciences and Instructional Specialist III, Biological Sciences, both at Somerset. In addition, he was an Adjunct Instructor and Graduate Assistant at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky.
Dr. Hayes earned an Electronic Technician Diploma at Tennessee Technology Center, an associate degree in Science at Somerset Community College, Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees at Eastern Kentucky University, and a Doctorate in Education at University of the Cumberlands.
Dr. Carl Smalls currently serves as CFO/Vice President of Administration at Danville Community College, a post he has held since 2023. Prior to that, he was Special Assistant to the President at Southside Virginia Community College. Dr. Smalls had a 10-year affiliation with Guilford Technical Community College in North Carolina where he served as Coordinator of Inclusion for Impact, Associate Professor, Student Services Representative and Adjunct Professor. He was Director of the Small Business Center and Business Incubation at Piedmont Community College in Roxboro, North Carolina, and Associate Athletic Director of Marketing and Fundraising at Winston-Salem State University. Dr. Smalls also served as Consultant, Associate Professor and Department Chair at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. During a 16-year affiliation with the University of Detroit Mercy, Dr. Smalls served as adjunct professor and instructor, and Director of College of Business Administration – Evening and Weekend Programs. In addition to his academic experience, Dr. Smalls has served in financial analysis and investment management in the automotive industry and the National Football League.
Dr. Smalls earned a Bachelor’s Degree at North Carolina AT&T State University, a Master’s Degree at Atlanta University Graduate School of Business, graduated from the Program on Investment Decisions and Behavioral Finance at Harvard University, and earned a Doctorate of Education at Kansas State University.
Dr. Ashli Hamilton Wilkins currently serves as Vice President and Dean, Institutional Services and Community Development at Wallace Community College, Dothan, Alabama, a post she has held since July 2018. Dr. Wilkins has been affiliated with Wallace Community College for almost 25 years, serving as Dean of Institutional Services and Community Development, Director of Institutional Advancement, Director of Grants and External Funding, and Instructor of English. Dr. Wilkins also served as adjunct Instructor of English at Troy University and Chipola College.
Dr. Wilkins earned a Bachelor of Science and Master’s Degree at Troy University, and a Ph.D. from Auburn University.
About Southwest Virginia Community College:
Southwest Virginia Community College was founded in 1967 and is in Cedar Bluff, Virginia. Serving the counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, and Tazewell, it has served more than 115,000 students since its creation. For more information, please visit www.sw.edu.
About Virginia’s Community Colleges:
Since 1966, Virginia’s Community Colleges have given everyone the opportunity to learn and develop the right skills, so lives and communities are strengthened. By making higher education and workforce training available in every part of Virginia, we elevate all of Virginia. In academic year 2024, Virginia’s Community Colleges served more than 232,000 students across 23 schools throughout Virginia. For more information, please visit www.vccs.edu. For more information on FastForward, please visit fastforwardva.org