DEARBORN-The Dearborn Board of Education selected the presidential candidate of Henry Ford Community College (HFCC) on Wednesday evening, during a special meeting where board members narrowed down the top five candidates to just one front-runner. 

Stan Jensen.

Board Trustee Hussein Berry made a motion to select Stan Jensen as the preferred candidate for the position. In a 5-1 vote, that motion passed. The board will now move forward in contract negotiations with Jensen as their top pick, while agreeing that candidate Gordon May would be their second choice if negotiations with Jensen fall through.

Jensen served almost five yeas as president and CEO of Colorado Mountain College (CMC). CMC was named first in its state and 17th nationwide, with 22,000 students and eight campuses. As an administrator, Jensen had focused on strategic planning for college growth, program development, resource development, adopting strategic technology and leadership. 

Board Trustee James Schoolmaster was absent from the meeting but was alerted over speaker phone of the board’s decision. Board Trustee Roxanne McDonald was the only member to vote against the motion, stating that she believed Jensen was a fit candidate, but preferred candidate Gordon May as her first pick 

Henry Ford Community College currently faces a financial deficit and is expected to be hiking tuition rates by more than seven percent in the upcoming school year. Jensen will be replacing Dr. Gail Mee, who announced her resignation in 2012.