Alumni News

Barry alumnus selected as fifth president of Manatee Community College

Dr. Lars Hafner was instrumental in establishing Barry's St. Petersburg cohort
By: Julianna M. Pietak

Barry University alumnus Dr. Lars Hafner was recently selected as the fifth president of Manatee Community College (MCC) in a unanimous decision by the MCC District Board of Trustees.

Hafner graduated in December 2006 from the Doctoral Program in Leadership with a specialization in Higher Education Administration at Barry’s Adrian Dominican School of Education. While completing this degree, Hafner was also a member of the first cohort for this doctoral program at the University Partnership Center in St. Petersburg, Fla.
In addition, as Director of the University Partnership Center at St. Petersburg College at the time, he was instrumental in establishing this ongoing partnership.

“He played a very emphatic role in spreading the word and getting his colleagues involved,” said Dr. Carmen McCrink, chair for the Educational Leadership and Higher Education Administration programs.

Since the cohort began with 18 students in 2005, 10 students have graduated with their PhDs, and six have gone through the proposal process, on the way to completing their doctoral degrees.