Board votes 3-1 to consider Rhine to have resigned after Central Arizona College announces her hiring
After a 3-1 vote on July 29, with District 2 representative Deb McCasland opposed, Yavapai College Governing Board considers Lisa Rhine, Ph.D., as effectively resigned following the news of her acceptance as president of Central Arizona College. The board then voted 4-0 to promote Doug Berry, Ph.D., as acting president.
Berry is the provost and vice president of student achievement at the college; the vote included a 20% increase to his current salary.
“Yavapai College is one of the premier community colleges in the country, recognized for its innovation and commitment to providing students with a high-quality education,” Berry said in a recent press release. “We have an outstanding leadership team, and our faculty and staff are deeply committed to the College’s mission. I am confident Yavapai College will continue to be an industry leader and one of the best community colleges in the nation.”
The vote allowed outgoing president Rhine to cash out any paid time off and to receive her salary through Sunday, Aug. 30.
The board made no announcement of a search for a permanent president during its July 29 meeting, during which it discussed the president’s contract and acting president appointment in an executive session.
In the executive session, it also discussed potentially releasing client-attorneyprivileged and previously confidential information, but decided to not vote on those when it reconvened in public session.
Ray Sigafoos, the former chairman for the governing board District 1 representative who William Kiel ousted in the 2024 election, said during public comment that Rhine was pushed out by the current board.
“I have been approached by a number of major donors,” he said. “Large donors. People you would know their names. One of them has indicated that he’s not going to renew his [donation]. Maybe a seven-figure number. I’m concerned about that.”
He did not name these donors, but said it will be hard to find anyone to replace Rhine, because of the board’s history of not working well with her.
“I understand that the college accreditation is at risk,” Sigafoos alleged. “The [Higher Learning Commission] has apparently issued a letter of concern, which is the first step in the investigation process for investigation purposes.”
“This spring, I understand that Lisa ordered a forensic audit of one or more of the departments,” Sigafoos said. “I understand also that that will be completed shortly. I expect and hope that the board will release the results of that audit.”
As part of a request for a future agenda item discussing the audit, McCasland said the president fired a vice president with cause earlier this year and launched an investigation into the department, but she did not say which department or vice president. Bracety and the college’s attorney, Jon Paladini, cut her off before she could finish speaking, citing open meeting law concerns.
The board will also continue to be a four-member board for the remainder of the year, following District 4 representative Patrick Kuykendall’s resignation at the end of June.
“It’s a practice I inherited from my predecessor and I agree with, in an election year, after March 1, I won’t appoint anyone,” Yavapai County Superintendent of Schools Steve King said.
There are three people running for Kuykendall’s seat in the November election, King said. The seat will be filled beginning Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, when the newly elected board members are sworn in.
Liaison Appointments
Bracety also made appointments as various liaisons through the end of the year.
The Arizona Association for Community College Trustees liaison will be himself and the board’s spokesperson is automatically him, per board policy.
Bracety appointed Kiel to take over Bracety’s former position as liaison to the Yavapai College Foundation. Rhine had unilaterally removed Bracety from the year-long post on April 10 after he joined two other board members to called for an election of new board chair and secretary, a vote which replace McCasland as chair with Bracety and appointed District representative Toby Payne as secretary, replacing Bracety.
“The foundation changed their bylaws, to keep their difference from the college, especially to be a 501(c)(3),” McCasland, who had been named the foundation’s liaison when that announcement was made, said immediately after Kiel’s appointment.
“And they changed who they wanted to have in the process they wanted to have for appointing liaisons.”
“OK, noted,” Bracety said in response. “Thank you.”
