Published on May 22nd, 2025
Last modified May 22nd, 2025 04:09 pm
MEDIA CONTACT:Susan PollardAsst. Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications(804) 819-4949spollard@vccs.edu
RICHMOND, VA – Dr. David Doré, Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), announced today that he has appointed Dr. Clinton R. Hayes to become the fourth permanent president of Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC). Dr. Hayes’ selection concludes a search that attracted 63 candidates nationwide. His service as president at Southwest Virginia will begin July 1.
“We’re excited to welcome Dr. Hayes to lead Southwest Virginia Community College, and we know he will continue to provide the kind of dynamic leadership that has made SWCC such a cultural center and economic driver in its region,” said Chancellor Doré. “We also want to express our deepest thanks to Dr. Victoria Sue Ratliff, who has provided leadership at Southwest Virginia as Interim President since last January.”
“Our months-long search attracted exceptional candidates and we are grateful to all of the talented educators who expressed interest in the Southwest Virginia presidency,” Doré added.
Dr. 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, Biological Sciences, both at Somerset. In addition, he was 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.
“I’m so impressed with Dr. Hayes’ dedication and long experience in serving the educational needs of people in a part of eastern Kentucky that’s similar to Southwest Virginia,” said SWCC local advisory board Chair Randall Hillman. “He really knows what our people need in terms of academic and workforce training, and we’re thrilled that he’ll be joining our community.”
“I am deeply honored to be named the next president of Southwest Virginia Community College,” said Dr. Hayes. “As a first-generation college student from a rural community whose life was shaped by the education and support I received at a community college, I understand firsthand the transformative power of institutions like Southwest Virginia. I look forward to working alongside faculty, staff, and community partners to build on the college’s remarkable legacy and invest in the future of our region by helping more students succeed in ways that transform their lives, support their families, and strengthen the communities they call home.”
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