CHANGES IN POLK COUNTY HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERSHIP COMING

Higher education facilities in Polk County are or will be seeing changes in it's leadership ranks, as one college is about to inaugurate it's new president, and another's has announced his retirement.

Florida Southern College, which is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, will celebrate the inauguration of it's 17th president, Dr. Anne B. Kerr, tomorrow in Lakeland. A native of Augusta, Georgia, she holds a bachelor's degree from Mercer University as well as a master's and doctorate from Florida State University.

Among the events scheduled for tomorrow's celebration are a prayer breakfast at The Lakeland Center, author Frances Mayes ("Under The Tuscan Sun") will receive an honourary doctor of humane letters degree, the main inauguration ceremony and reception, and a performance by Metropolitan Opera soprano Roberta Peters followed by a fireworks display over Lake Hollingsworth.

Meanwhile, after seven years at the helm of Polk Community College, president Dr. J. Larry Durrence announced Tuesday that he would retire effective Januray 30 of next year. The announcement was made early so that preperations could begin to select his successor.

During his tenure, PCC reversed a downward trend in enrollment, introduced new degree programmes in information technology and health care, increased the number of scholarships for students, built up it's endowment programme sizably, began a corporate college to train students for business and industry, and opened a charter high school for advanced juniors and seniors.

Dr. Durrence has long been active in the community, having served as a former Mayor/City Commissioner in Lakeland and is currently Chairman of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce. He says he wants to spend more time with his family, which includes children in the Panhandle and in Virginia.