After its president resigned amid a fiscal watch designation in April, followed by its interim president’s resignation in May, Terra State Community College has found its second interim president in June beyond the walls of traditional academia.
Coming from the United States Naval Community College in Quantico, Virginia, Terra State trustees selected Chad M. Breeden, EdD, the USNCC’s vice president of operations.
Breeden’s appointment came at a special trustees meeting on June 17. He will serve as the second interim president at Terra State since the resignation of Cory Stine on May 27. Stine replaced President Ron Schumacher, who left April 2 after the college was put on fiscal watch by the Ohio auditor.
“I am honored and humbled to be selected as the next interim president of Terra State Community College. Throughout my career, I have believed that leadership begins with service, hard work and building strong relationships. Those values will guide me as I begin this new role,” Breeden said. “I look forward to listening, learning and working alongside the faculty, staff, students, trustees and community leaders who make Terra State such an important institution. Together, we will focus on student success, enrollment growth, financial stewardship and strengthening the partnerships that support the college and the region.”
The board noted that it was impressed by his focus on financial stewardship, enrollment growth, academic excellence and community engagement.
“The board of trustees was excited by his attitude to lead by example, build trust, serve with integrity, focus on financial stability of the college and fully support Terra’s employees, students and business partners,” Board President Mirceau Handru said. “We are confident he will strengthen relationships across the campus and community, and advance the college’s mission during this important period of transition. We are excited to welcome Dr. Breeden to Terra State Community College and look forward to the future under his leadership.”
Breeden has years of experience in the world of military education. He has worked at USNCC since 2024, first as program manager with Claxton Logistics Services doing work registrar operations, and then signing on directly with the college as VP of operations. He has simultaneously worked as a trustee with Heidelberg University.
Breeden also has command experience in the White House Military Office as director of the President’s Emergency Operations Center from 2009 to 2011. He also led personnel in the Marine Air Control Group 38 and the Marine Air Control Squadron 1.
He is a graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Control Systems Course and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and earned his doctorate in education in community college leadership from Ferris State University. Breeden is also familiar with the local area as a 1988 graduate of Heidelberg College.
He will take the helm at a difficult time.
Terra State has cycled through five chief financial officers in the last eight years and did not submit financial statements nor carry out annual audits in recent years. The state auditor cited problems in 19 areas, including financial reporting, cash and investments, receivables, liabilities, expenditures and taxes.
In other business, trustees approved the Terra State Community College Financial Recovery Plan 2026. Creation of the plan is a requirement of the fiscal watch process, which is required to be submitted to the Ohio Department of Higher Education before June 21.
Breeden starts July 20. There will also be a formal welcoming event with students at the start of the new semester.
Contact Roger LaPointe at 419-332-2674.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Navy educator to take the helm at Terra State
Reporting by Roger LaPointe, Fremont News-Messenger / Fremont News-Messenger
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By Roger LaPointe, Fremont News-Messenger | USA TODAY Network
