Piedmont Virginia Community College president to retire

Frank Friedman, the president of Piedmont Virginia Community College, will retire in May 2022, the school announced this week.

Friedman, the Albemarle County college’s fifth president, has been at the top since 1999.

Virginia Community College System Chancellor Glenn DuBois and the PVCC board will conduct a national search to find the next president.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as president of PVCC. I have worked with the finest, most dedicated faculty and staff you will find anywhere. I am so proud that in the 23 years I have been president, over 150,000 students have received an accessible, affordable, high-quality education at PVCC,” Friedman said in a statement.

Under Friedman’s leadership, the college’s enrollment went up 25%, the number of graduates went from 300 to 1,200, new programs from health care to technology to culinary arts were added, and buildings have been added and leased.

Friedman has worked in community colleges since 1977. He was the executive vice president of Austin Community College in Texas, and has been a chief academic officer, chief student services officer, director of institutional research and planning and served as a faculty member in psychology and education.

He has also served on national higher education boards and commissions.

“Frank has been an outstanding president, always seeing our mission in the best interest of our students,” DuBois said in a statement. “He has also fought hard, and often, to secure financial resources for the faculty and staff at Piedmont. Although the state board could never replace Frank, I’m sure they will find the right leader worthy to replace him,” DuBois said.

Earlier this month, DuBois announced his own pending retirement in June 2022.