MECC President Scott Hamilton Announces Retirement

/in /by

Dr. Scott Hamilton

Big Stone Gap, VA – Dr. Scott Hamilton, president of Mountain Empire Community College, has announced his retirement effective July 1, 2017.

Dr. Hamilton joined MECC as president in 2010. He had previously served as the Dean of Instruction at Eastern Idaho Technical College in Idaho Falls, ID. A native of Illinois, Dr. Hamilton’s experience includes work in the mining industry as well as instruction and administration in high school- and community college-level career and technical education.

During his tenure at MECC, Dr. Hamilton oversaw the renovation of Dalton-Cantrell Hall, construction of new access and entrance facilities, numerous campus improvements, the development of several new career and technical programs, and the college’s SACSCOC five-year reaffirmation.

“When I came to MECC I had been told by many people that MECC had a hard-working and dedicated staff who made it their mission to help the people of Southwest Virginia,” said Hamilton. “Over the last six and a half years I have found that to be very true.  The needs are great here in Appalachia and the challenges are as steep as the mountains; but this college has always met, and will continue to meet those challenges. Thousands of lives have been changed through the hard work and commitment to students of the faculty and staff here and I am sure that tradition of service will continue.”   

Hamilton added, “It has been my privilege and honor to serve as president of this excellent college for seven years.  I will always cherish the years here at MECC as the capstone of my career.”

“We are grateful for the hard work and dedication that Scott Hamilton has given to Mountain Empire Community College and we wish him nothing but the best in retirement,” said Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges. “We also look forward to working with the local college board and the college community to find Mountain Empire’s next president – someone who will continue to build on the progress and momentum the college achieved over Dr. Hamilton’s tenure.”

A search to replace Hamilton is expected to be conducted in the spring of 2017. For more information, please contact MECC’s Office of Community Relations at 276.523.2400 ext. 480.