Sonia Gugnani, whose connection to Fort Scott Community College goes back more than 10 years, is the school’s new vice president of academic affairs.
Her hiring was formally approved by the FSCC Board of Trustees on Monday, and elevates her from her previous post as associate dean of instruction and institutional effectiveness.
The move constitutes a small one geographically for Gugnani, she can just slide into the VP’s office from her current station in Bailey Hall, but a large one in terms of oversight and responsibility.
It’s a role for which she’s well-prepared.
“As the associate dean, I was involved in serving the needs of the high school students in our area,” she said. “That involved collaborating with various stakeholders to ensure the success of our students. I am very familiar with various processes and have been closely involved in curriculum development, assessment and accreditation.
“Having worked with the previous vice president of academic affairs (Adam Borth) has given me a better understanding of the job.”
Gugnani, who has a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s in psychology, began at FSCC in 2014 as a part-time instruction support specialist after two years as an adjunct instructor. She was appointed director of institutional effectiveness and outreach in 2019, then associate dean of instruction and institutional effectiveness in 2021. She participated in the Kansas Community College Leadership Institute last year, and is part of the Lead Bourbon County training cohort.
Teamwork is the key ingredient to success for a lead administrator, she said.
“Working with faculty and staff to offer our students opportunities and quality education is essential for this position,” she said. “I consider myself extremely fortunate to work with a great group of faculty and staff who support the college’s mission and go above and beyond what is expected of them in order to achieve shared objectives.”
Of course, the job does not come without challenges, Gugnani agreed.
“Most community colleges are seeing a reduction in enrollment as a result of students entering the workforce directly out of high schools,” she said. “Promoting general-education courses, dual-credit courses, and implementing short-term career and technical programs could help with enrollment and retention.
“By providing our students the resources they need to complete their education, we can help them be independent and self-sufficient. I strongly believe community colleges have the ability to strengthen our nation’s workforce.”
Personally, Gugnani and her husband, P.K., a local physician, are “proud parents” of three sons, Neil, 19, Shekhar, 19, and Raj, 14. The two eldest are recent graduates of Fort Scott High School and the youngest is an incoming freshman at FSHS.
“(We have) been part of this community for the last 19 years,” said Gugnani, who enjoys spending time with her family, watching action/comedy movies and taking long walks, making puzzles and playing board games.