Thank you to each of you that participated in our search for CGCC’s next Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA), which is a key leader for the CGCC community. As you are aware, this was a competitive national search that resulted in three finalists. The finalist stage of the process included a tour of the Williams campus, faculty forum, staff/community forum, interview with PLC, a one on one interview with the College President and reference checks of each finalist. Robust feedback was received throughout the process, and every bit of this was used to arrive at a decision. 

Please watch this video and read below to learn more about our search and our next VPAA. 
 

I would like to reiterate my gratitude to Dr. Woodrum, Dr. Weber and Ms. Patton for their leadership as tri-chairs of the search committee. Additionally, our entire search committee did excellent work during this search process, and it is greatly appreciated. 

Lastly, I would like to express appreciation for the leadership that Dr. Gabriela Rosu and Mr. Chris Schnick demonstrated throughout the course of this academic year. Their roles of interim Sr. Associate VP’s of Academic Affairs were a unique approach to academic affairs leadership, and their commitment to our CGCC faculty, staff and students was evident in how they took these roles on. 

Below is a bit more about Dr. Welborn’s background - he will be joining us on June 1, 2026, at CGCC. Please join me in welcoming him to the Pack!

CJ Wurster, Ed.D.
President

Meet our new Vice President of Academic Affairs

Dr. Ty Welborn, Ph.D.

Dr. Ty Welborn brings 25 years of community college experience as an educator and administrator, driven by a deep commitment to student success and institutional excellence. His career includes faculty roles in both academic and career and technical education programs, as well as progressive leadership positions as Program Director, Division Chair, Dean, and currently Interim Senior Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Institutional Research at Phoenix College. In this role, he provides leadership for academic operations, strategic planning, institutional effectiveness, and data governance.

His recent accomplishments include leading Phoenix College’s Higher Learning Commission 10 year reaffirmation of accreditation, including development of the assurance argument and oversight of the peer review site visit. He also guided the development and approval of the college’s first baccalaureate degree programs, led efforts to redesign academic program review and assessment processes to strengthen continuous improvement and accountability, and actively supports the college’s Achieving the Dream initiative focused on improving student retention and successful gateway English and Math course completion.

A U.S. Army veteran and first-generation college graduate, Dr. Welborn believes deeply in the community college mission to transform lives through access and opportunity. His leadership philosophy emphasizes servant leadership, shared governance, data-informed decision-making, and equity-minded practice. Having served in elected faculty leadership roles and across multiple governance bodies, he brings a strong appreciation for collaborative decision-making. His experience working in both faculty and executive leadership roles within the Maricopa County Community College District provides him with a deep understanding of the opportunities and complexities of leading academic programs within one of the nation’s largest community college systems.

Dr. Welborn looks forward to partnering with Chandler-Gilbert Community College’s faculty, staff, and leadership to advance student success, expand high-impact learning opportunities, and support the college’s continued excellence in serving the Southeast Valley.