Former Presidents

Dr. Christine M. Hammond

June 2014 - July 2020

Dr. Christine M. Hammond was appointed to serve as the President of Mid Michigan College on June 24, 2014. Prior to assuming these responsibilities, Dr. Hammond was the Chief Academic Officer for North Central Michigan College, a community college in Petoskey, Michigan. In that role, she provided leadership for North Central’s academic program, including accreditation; curricular development; faculty recruitment, selection, and development; the College’s Corporate and Community Education division, its off-campus centers, library and instructional technology. She collaborated with faculty and staff across the College to lead student success strategies in conjunction with the College’s Achieving the Dream initiative.

Dr. Hammond’s career has encompassed numerous leadership experiences in student and academic affairs across a variety of institutional settings with significant expertise in institutional research, curriculum alignment and development, and strategic planning.

President Hammond holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Thiel College (1977), a Master of Arts degree in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University (1978), and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Michigan State University (1994). Her dissertation on service learning, faculty motivation, and organizational design, “Integrating Service and Academic Study: Faculty Motivation and Satisfaction in Michigan Higher Education,” appeared in the inaugural issue of the Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning v. 1, no. 1 (Fall 1994). She continues to teach occasionally in the MSU College of Education.

She began her career in residence life and student affairs, serving as an Assistant Dean of Students at Thiel College (Greenville, Pennsylvania) and Associate Dean of Students at Lawrence University (Appleton, Wisconsin).After earning her doctorate at Michigan State University, she led the Office of Faculty Development at Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan, and then served as Executive Director for Administrative Affairs at the Michigan State University College of Law during a period of significant change. In both settings, she was instrumental in designing systems, policies, and procedures for effective institutional management. At MSU College of Law, a private law school on a public campus, she helped build the interface between the two institutions, serving as the primary point of contact between the Law College Board of Trustees and the governing units of the University.

Prior to assuming her current position, Dr. Hammond served for three years as Senior Project Coordinator for Michigan State University’s initiative in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Through numerous trips between East Lansing, Michigan and Dubai she coordinated the curricular offerings and academic services for the Dubai site, built a strong international team of faculty and staff members, and helped students from the Middle East start on a pathway to higher education that had not previously been available.

Chris is committed to community service, including current commitments as a member of the Clare Rotary, Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance Board, Mid Michigan Health Clare-Gladwin Mirror Board, MSU Bio-Ag Council, the MSU Extension Advisory Council, and the Harrison Women's Association. She has served on the Executive Board of the ACE Michigan Network for Women since 1999, served as the State Coordinator for the Network from 2007-2009, and is currently a Presidential Sponsor. Dr. Hammond is a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission.

Dr. Hammond’s husband Tom is a professor of political science at Michigan State University. They are the proud parents of Stuart Hammond, a student at the University of Michigan and Emily Frantz, who holds a Masters in Public Health with expertise in health department accreditation.

Carol A. Churchill

July 2007 - June 2014

Carol A. Churchill became the fifth president of Mid Michigan Community College on July 1, 2007. In this role, she provides overall leadership to the college which serves more than 7,000 students annually at three campus locations in the tri-county region of Clare, Gladwin, and Isabella Counties.

Since arriving at MMCC, President Churchill has focused on managing unparalleled growth and on carrying out one of the most ambitious construction and renovation programs in the college's history. She has led the development and implementation of strategic planning that encompasses four enduring goals: Enabling Student Success, Enhancing Employee Success, Engaging the Community, and Improving Institutional Effectiveness.

President Churchill is involved in several local and state organizations, serving as an active member, officer and/or board member of Clare Rotary, Clare County United Way, MidMichigan Health - Gladwin, Harrison Women's Association, Union Township Downtown Development Authority, Middle Michigan Development Corporation, Vision 20/20 Isabella County, Michigan Virtual University, American Council of Education Women's Network, and the President's Council of the Michigan Community College Association. In 2011, she won both the Outstanding Community Service award from Clare Rotary and the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction for her efforts in promoting the goals of Phi Theta Kappa, the international community college honor society. She is a frequent speaker for local and statewide organizations.

President Churchill has twenty three years of administrative experience within the Michigan Community College system. From 2003 to 2007, she served first as Dean of Student Success and then as Vice Provost for Economic and Workforce Development at Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan. For fifteen years, she served in a variety of roles at Southwestern Michigan College (SMC), including Placement Counselor, Director of Work Experience Programs, Dean of Enrollment Management, and Vice President for Student Services. She has taught on both the secondary and postsecondary levels.

President Churchill received an Associate in Arts degree from SMC. From Western Michigan University, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and social science as well as the Master of Arts degree in educational leadership with an emphasis in human resource development. She is also a graduate of the Executive Leadership Institute of the League for Innovation in the Community College.

President Churchill and her husband, Jim, owned and operated a 656 acre farm for nearly 25 years and still own a family farm in southwestern Michigan. Jim is a timber buyer, specializing in purchasing high quality hardwoods in Michigan; he also plays an active role in representing MMCC to the community. They have three children and eight grandchildren. In their leisure time, Jim and Carol enjoy outdoor activities including bicycling, golfing, canoeing, snowshoeing, and four-wheeling.

Ron Verch

April 1997 - June 2007

Ron Verch served as President of Mid Michigan Community College from April 1997 to June 2007. He was employed at the College since September 1968 first as a History/Economics faculty member, and then as Associate Dean of Instruction and Vice President. Ron received his Masters and Bachelors degrees from Northern Michigan University, Marquette, and attended the University of Montana Missoula in the Doctoral Program. He has prior experience in education working at the University of Montana and Northern Michigan University, and served in the United States Air Force.

Mr. Verch's many community activities include Secretary, East Downtown Development Authority-Union Township; Clare Downtown Development Authority; Member Clare Rotary; Human Aid Inc. Board of Directors; and the Literacy Advisory Council. Other affiliations and memberships include the Michigan Association of Community Colleges Board of Directors, American Management Association, and American Association for Higher Education. Ron and his wife, Peg, are residents of Clare.

Dr. Charles J. Corrigan

June 1990 - July 1996

Dr. Corrigan was President of MMCC from June 1990 to July 1996. Corrigan was selected to serve as Mid’s fourth president while employed as Dean of Administrative Services at Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell, Montana. He was formerly employed at Mid Michigan Community College as Dean of Occupational Education from 1974 to 1983, so was familiar with the school and the community.

The Lake County, Michigan native received his bachelor‘s degree in education from Ferris State University and his master’s degree from the University of Michigan and his doctorate degree from Michigan State University.

Dr. Corrigan was brought on board at the college during the accreditation self-study and worked with the board of trustees and college administrators to continue to keep a high level of education consistent with technological advances taking place.

Dr. Corrigan and his wife, Rennie are once again residents of Kalispell, Montana. Corrigan spends his retirement on horseback roundups in the Flathead Valley. He assists in calving, branding and weaning, and loves to cook for the ranch hands. Rennie teaches woodcarving (mostly Santas) using hand tools and makes homemade soaps.

Dr. Eugene Schorzmann

July 1985 - June 1990

Dr. Schorzmann was President of MMCC from July 1985 to June 1990.

He came to the mid-Michigan area from Estherville, Iowa where he was Vice President for Instruction at Iowa Lakes Community College.

Dr. Schorzmann received his doctorate in educational administration, with an emphasis in community college administration from Nova University at Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  

Dr. Eugene W. Gillaspy

March 1966 - July 1985

Dr. Gillaspy was President of MMCC from March 1966 to July 1985. Previous to becoming President at MMCC, he spent several years as Assistant to the President at Muskegon Community College in Muskegon, Michigan. He began his career as a teacher at Muskegon Heights and later became a coach and athletic director. He also taught at Western Michigan University and five years at Muskegon Community College before he became Director of the Evening School, Academic Dean, and Director of Community Relations. While serving as Director of Community Relations, his major responsibility was establishing a new community college district, electing a board of trustees and developing a satisfactory millage campaign for building and operating the new college. After being appointed Assistant to the President at Muskegon Community College, he continued working on the development and building of the campus.

During his first 20 years at MMCC, Dr. Gillaspy assisted in the ongoing development of the campus in Harrison. He wrote articles on the community college concept of education that appeared in nationally distributed publications. Gillaspy’s formal education began at Michigan State University. He received his A.B. and B.S. degrees at Western Michigan University. He received a Master’s Degree in speech at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and later obtained a Master’s Degree in higher education at the University of Michigan. In 1964, he held a University of Texas Kellogg Foundation Fellowship in community college administration. Later he attended the Education Graduate School at Stanford University. He received his Doctorate in Education at the University of Sarasota.

Mrs. Gillaspy shared the professional interests of her husband exemplified a true appreciation for education as professor of physical education at Central Michigan University. She retired in 1983.