PB college's new president settles in, has 100-day plan

Southeast Arkansas College has a new president.

Steven Bloomberg started at the Pine Bluff college Jan. 1 and previously worked at Oklahoma City Community College, where he was executive vice president. Bloomberg succeeds Stephen Hilterbran, who led Southeast Arkansas since 2011 before retiring at the beginning of this year.

In his new role, Bloomberg will earn $160,000 annually, along with an annual $18,000 housing allowance for a home in Jefferson County. The college's board also provided Bloomberg with a car, maintained and insured by the college, along with a smartphone, and other health and retirement benefits.

Bloomberg's contract runs through Dec. 31, 2020, though the document includes a provision that renews his term on a rolling basis. Under that clause, the board or Bloomberg has until Sept. 15, 2019, or the same date in subsequent years to notify the other party of a contract termination. If no such notice is provided, the contract will automatically renew on Jan. 1 of the following calendar year for two years.

Bloomberg has created a 100-day plan in which he wants to talk with and listen to various groups, including high schools, elected officials, and business and economic development leaders, according to a news release.

He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of LaVerne in California and a master's degree in education from West Texas A&M University.

He is finishing up a doctorate in higher-education leadership from the American College of Education in Indiana, the news release said.

Metro on 02/09/2018

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