Video: New EMCC President Has Big Plans For The Future

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MAYHEW, Miss. (WCBI) – Dr. Thomas Huebner has big shoes to fill.

He succeeds Dr. Rick Young, who led East Mississippi Community College for 11 years.

Even though Dr. Huebner took on the role as president of EMCC just three weeks ago, he has all hands on deck.

He says coming to EMCC is a lot like coming home and he’s excited to be apart of a growing and thriving community college.
Dr. Huebner has family ties in the Magnolia State and he describes taking his new position at EMCC as a ‘dream job.’

“On a personal level, coming some place where I feel such at home, where people have been so welcoming, where there are opportunities for growth, where people are excited for the next step, it’s really an ideal situation,” said EMCC President Dr. Huebner.

Those opportunities for growth are exactly what Dr. Huebner is planning to keep at the forefront of his leadership.

In addition to strong work force training programs, EMCC is also the host for the state’s first Early College High School, which will serve as a model for others throughout the country.

“I’m amazed at the number of businesses and industry that are interested in coming here. We of course are instrumental in forming the Early College High School that’s going to be hosted here on this campus starting this fall. It’s going to be an outstanding opportunity for students in this area. I just think there are a lot of good growth opportunities here,” said Dr. Huebner.

Both Mayhew and Scooba campuses will also be seeing new construction projects.

Dr. Huebner says more residence halls are in the works for the Scooba campus and within the next year, a new student center will be complete in Mayhew.

But the recent lack of funding by the state has been in issue for many community colleges, including EMCC.

Although this funding is a fundamental part of the schools success, Dr. Huebner says he has a plan to move forward.

“We want the tax payers of the area to see us and understand us as an important function of what happens here. But we can also work hard to recruit students and develop new programs that meet the needs of the region and those sorts of things help us grow and that growth adds to our revenue,” said Dr. Huebner.

And for now, Dr. Huebner’s plan for success remains straight forward to keep the momentum of a growing school.

“I don’t think it’s going to be hard because we have folks who love what they do, enjoy what they do and so just giving them the encouragement and support they need, that’s going to be my job,” added Dr. Huebner.

Within the next year, Dr. Huebner hopes to break ground on the work force training facility, known as Communiversity.

The cost is around $38 million dollars  and will house 15 manufacturing, technology and engineering educational bays on a 12-acre site near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport, land that had already been donated to EMCC.

Communiversity should be operational in 2018.