Fact Box

BIOGRAPHY OF DR. BOB PAXTON

Bob Paxton's relationship with Iowa Central Community College began on a high note in November 1994 when his hiring was announced by the school's search committee.

"He has one of the finest set of credentials I've ever seen," said Larry Ebbers, a consultant to the search committee from the Iowa Association of School Boards. Paxton emerged from a search that began July 11, 1994.

From a field of 59 applications from 28 states, Paxton was one of four candidates chosen for a community visit.

In his initial interview with The Messenger, he said the first priority on his agenda was establishing a relationship with the faculty, staff and board of directors. Next in line, he said, was addressing the problem of sagging enrollment.

The former vice president of instruction at Cowley Community College in Arkansas City, Kan., Paxton had also served as dean of student services from 1988-1990.

He came to Cowley after serving almost six years at Colby Community College at Colby, Kan. He was director of admissions, an administrative intern and a counselor at the school.

Enrollment at both schools increased substantially during his time at the institutions.

Paxton also has background as a program director at an adolescent treatment center in Colorado and as a part-time psychology instructor at Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs.

His resume included pages of professional honors, scholarships and presentations.

He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin in 1989 with a doctorate in educational administration and community college leadership. Paxton obtained a master's degree from Fort Hays State University in Kansas in 1979 and earned a bachelor of arts degree from Nebraska Christian College in Norfolk in ministry and counseling in 1978.

CHRONOLOGY OF PAXTON'S TIME AT IOWA CENTRAL

November 1994: Dr. Robert A. Paxton was hired as president of Iowa Central Community College, succeeding Jack Bottenfield. Paxton has previously served as vice president of instruction at Cowley Community College in Arkansas City, Kan. Paxton was one of 59 applicants for the position. Upon assuming the presidency, Paxton identified boosting enrollment, marketing and recruitment efforts as among his top goals for the community college.

August 1995: Iowa Central enrollment jumped from 940 to 1,334 full-time students, the first of several record-breaking enrollment increases during Paxton's tenure.

June 1997: Paxton was recognized as a "Distinguished Graduate of the Community College Leadership Program" at the University of Texas. Paxton was one of 17 community college leaders recognized nationwide based on significant contributions made to the community college movement at the local, state or national level.

August 1998: Paxton received the 1998 Outstanding Chief Administrator award from the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees. Also, the first of four apartment-style dormitories was completed on the Iowa Central campus. Eventually, Iowa Central would include 12 such facilities, with three more currently under construction.

January 2001: The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation began looking into possible grade falsification for Iowa Central football player B.J. Van Briesen. Van Briesen confirmed that he had been inaccurately certified to play for Iowa Central in 2000 for courses he didn't complete during the summer academic session.

January 2002: Paxton, along with Iowa Central Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Development Tom Beneke, Athletic Director Dennis Pilcher and head football coach Kevin Twait, were indicted in conjunction with the Van Briesen incident. Paxton was charged with two counts of felonious misconduct in office, falsifying public documents and tampering with records.

March 2002: Charges against Paxton were dismissed without prejudice, under the condition that he accepted responsibility for the incident. Beneke, Pilcher and Twait pleaded guilty and, according to court agreement, were placed on administrative probation, received unpaid suspensions of two weeks and were ordered to perform 60 hours of community service.

August 2003: Iowa Central Homeland Security Training Center opened. The facility trains law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel.

March 2007: Iowa Central received a $3 million building donation from the Crimmins family of Fort Dodge. The building, which will become the Crimmins Complex, is at 1142 14th St. S.W. near the Des Moines River.

June 2007: Voters approved an $18 million bond referendum for Iowa Central to fund several projects, including a $10 million facility to house the community college's bio-science and health science programs and several infrastructure and facility upgrades. A previous attempt to pass a bond referendum failed in December 2006.

September 2007: Iowa Central enrollments increase 4.4 percent to 5,731 students. Enrollments are also expected to increase for the 2008 fall semester, based on preliminary estimates.

July 2008: A photo featuring Paxton and several unidentified people surfaced. The photo showed Paxton holding a small beer keg over the mouth of a bikini-clad woman, prompting outrage among area residents.