Inauguration of Renfro as JWCC’s seventh president set for Friday

QUINCY — The inauguration of Bryan Renfro as the seventh president of John Wood Community College will take place at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, in the Mary Ellen Orr Auditorium of the Paul Heath Community Education and Fine Arts Center on the Quincy campus.

The ceremony will formally install Renfro as JWCC’s new president, mark a new era in the college’s history and will focus on the impact of a college president in relation to student success and community advancement.

JWCC board of trustee chair Bob Rhea will present Renfro with the Presidential Medallion, a traditional academic symbol of the authority and responsibility of the college president. The medallion signals the beginning of a newly appointed tenure in office and is worn for commencements and other occasions when academic regalia are appropriate.

Featured speakers will be:

• JWCC board of trustee vice chair Andy Sprague and secretary Paula Hawley, who will offer welcome and closing remarks;
• Kaydence Gregory of Bluffs, JWCC’s student trustee;
• Kyle Moore, JWCC alum and president of the Great River Economic Development Foundation; and
• Juan Mejia, president of Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas.  Mejia became a friend and mentor to Renfro during Renfro’s tenure as associate vice provost of academic and workforce affairs and dean of professional and technical programs at Tyler.

Renfro will deliver an address upon his investiture and acceptance of the symbol of office.

Faculty Member of the Year Matt Carey will serve as macebearer. Staff Member of the Year Doug McQuern will carry the Presidential Symbol of Office in the procession. 

The JWCC board of trustees appointed Renfro as John Wood Community College’s seventh president in January 2023. Before becoming president of JWCC, he was vice president of academic instruction at Paris Junior College in Texas. Other previous higher education experiences were associate vice provost of academic and workforce affairs and dean of professional and technical programs at Tyler Junior College, dean of business and public services at Hawkeye Community College, and assistant dean at Colorado Mountain College. 

Renfro has taught courses in anthropology, criminal justice and education. He holds a doctorate from Iowa State University in higher education administration with an emphasis in community college leadership, a master’s degree in anthropology from the University of Arkansas, and a bachelor of arts in anthropology from the University of Tennessee.

A reception will follow the inauguration in JWCC’s Heath Center lobby and clocktower courtyard.  The event is open to community members who RSVP to Leah Benz, Renfro’s executive assistant, at lbenz@jwcc.edu or 217-641-4102.