3rd MCC Presidential Candidate Visits ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) - The third of three finalists for the job of president at Monroe Community College visited the Brighton and Damon City campuses on Thursday -- saying she's impressed by the connections between the college and the Rochester community, and by the quality of MCC's educational programs.

Doctor Anne Kress says she was contacted by a recruiter about the MCC presidency. She was interested because of the college's reputation and because she once taught under the interim MCC President, Larry Tyree.

Doctor Kress is currently Provost and Vice-President for Academic Affairs at Santa Fe College, a community college in Gainsville, Florida that's slightly smaller than MCC but offers similar programs. She says much of her job involves the day- to-day operation of her school, and also working with Florida state officials. She says makes her ready to work with New York State officials and also to reach out for new partnerships in the Rochester Community.

Doctor Kress says the increasing demand for community college education during the recession combined with flat or declining funding means she'll have a challenge if she becomes MCC's new president. Kress says part of her job will be to convince state lawmakers and private givers that funding MCC is one of the best investments they can make in developing the local economy.

If Kress is chosen by the MCC Trustees, she'd be the first female president in the college's history. The other candidates are Doctor Kevin Drumm and Doctor Gordon May, who met with faculty and staff at MCC earlier this week.

The Monroe Community College Board of Trustees plans a closed door meeting on Friday to begin discussing their final pick. © Copyright 2009, WXXI