Claremont — Alicia Harvey-Smith, who was hired three years ago as president of the River Valley Community College, announced on Tuesday she is resigning her post to become executive vice chancellor of Lone Star Community College in Houston.

In a phone interview on Tuesday, Harvey-Smith said the opportunity was too good to turn down.

“I so much love being here,” Harvey-Smith said. “We were staying put and actually bought a house, but then this opportunity came along.”

She said she will be leaving RVCC at the end of the month but will remain in the area until Nov. 1 at the latest and will keep in contact with college officials to help with the transition.

Harvey-Smith expects an interim president will be appointed while the search for a full-time replacement is underway.

“River Valley is a great college with a big mission and a big vision,” she said. “We were able to do amazing things and I think the college is well-positioned for the next person to continue that movement forward.

“The college looks better and we just hired a new administrative team,” she said. “It has been exciting to get the college to where it is.”

Among the changes under Harvey-Smith’s direction is the expansion to downtown Claremont and Lebanon. The Lebanon Academic Center will hold a grand opening at a public event from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday. It is located in the former home of Lebanon College.

In a news release announcing the resignation, Community College System of New Hampshire Chancellor Ross Gittell credited Harvey-Smith with a number of initiatives to advance the school’s role in the community and improve its educational offerings.

These include expanding workforce training partnerships with business and industry, progress in fundraising, overseeing capital improvements to the Claremont campus and academic center in Keene, N.H., and gaining reaccreditation for the college’s nursing program.

Lone Star Community College serves 95,000 students and Harvey-Smith’s role will support six colleges, eight academic centers and two university centers, the college said in a news release.

Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.]]>