Coffeyville, KS — Coffeyville Community College (CCC) announces the promotion of Cari Redden to Vice President for Academic Services, effective March 1, 2026. Redden steps into the role as Dr. Aron Potter concludes her tenure at CCC to assume the presidency of John Wood Community College in Quincy, Illinois.
Redden has been a dedicated member of the Coffeyville Community College team since 2001, bringing 25 years of experience, leadership, and institutional knowledge to her new role. She holds a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and Human Services from Kansas State University, as well as an Associate of Arts degree from Coffeyville Community College.
Throughout her career at CCC, Redden has served in various leadership and instructional roles, including Director of Academic Advising, Adjunct Faculty member, and Director of Distance Learning. Her broad experience across academic services, student support, and instructional delivery provides a strong foundation for leading the College’s academic initiatives.
In her most recent role, Redden has worked closely with faculty on instructional technology and online learning initiatives, supporting both student success and faculty innovation. She has collaborated with Marty Evensvold, Director of Institutional Effectiveness, on institutional effectiveness efforts and learning assessment strategies and has led major upgrades to the College’s learning management system.
Redden also served on CCC’s Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Accreditation Committee during the College’s comprehensive accreditation review in 2024, contributing to the College’s successful 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation.
“I’m honored to have been selected and grateful for the opportunity to serve as Vice President of Academic Services at Coffeyville Community College,” said Redden. “I look forward to working alongside our leadership team, faculty, and staff to continue delivering high-quality education that meets the needs of our students and strengthens our community.”
Beyond her work at the college, Redden has actively participated in the community. From 2015 to 2020, she served as the Director of the Coffeyville Regional Medical Center Foundation and has been involved with site councils for USD 445. Currently, she serves as the secretary for the NADO Booster Club, is a member of the Coffeyville Public Schools Alumni Board, and serves on the Kansas State University Family Advisory Board.
“We are excited to elevate Cari to the vice president role,” said CCC President Dr. Marlon Thornburg. “Her years of teaching, assessment, and leadership experience will be invaluable as she helps design and implement future academic initiatives at CCC.”
Her appointment comes at a time of significant momentum for Coffeyville Community College. CCC recently reported an 11.4 percent one-year increase in headcount enrollment—the highest growth of any community college or university in Kansas—and earned national recognition as a 2027 Aspen Prize Top 200 Community College. As Vice President of Academic Services, Redden will play a key role in advancing CCC’s vision to serve a diverse student population while stimulating economic, intellectual, and cultural growth in the region. Her leadership will further support the College’s mission of providing accessible, affordable, high-quality education and training while promoting lifelong learning opportunities.