Chattahoochee Valley Community College

For Immediate Release –  November 9, 2007

CVCC Hires New Dean of Instruction

Chattahoochee Valley Community College has hired Dr. Greg Labyak as the College’s Dean of Instruction.  Although Dr. Labyak is not from Alabama or Georgia , he has Southern roots.  He hails from South Carolina and received his postsecondary education at the University of South Carolina and Louisiana State University .  In addition, Dr. Labyak has been employed at Dalton State College and the State University of West Georgia. 

“What attracted me first was the location.  Most of my immediate family lives in South Carolina and I have relatives in both Alabama and Georgia. (The proximity) will allow me to see them more frequently,” Dr. Labyak said.

Although it was location that initially attracted Dr. Labyak to CVCC, he says it’s “compatibility” that makes CVCC a “good fit.”  During a recent address to the campus, Dr. Labyak said that his own values are compatible with those of the college community.  Among those values are student centeredness, participatory decision-making, collaboration, and responsiveness to the community. “From what I have heard and read, it is apparent that student success is the most important thing at CVCC.  That success is at the heart of the community college mission, and it is my highest priority as well.”   

Dr. Labyak explained that during his interview at CVCC, he was impressed by the spirit of cooperation among faculty and staff as well as the strong emphasis on external partnerships.  He shares the enthusiasm about the growth of jobs in Phenix City and the Chattahoochee Valley, and he welcomes the special opportunities that such growth presents for CVCC.

Dr. Labyak’s impressive vita lists more than 30 years of professional contributions, accomplishments and honors.  Although Dr. Labyak has excelled in his career, moving from faculty member to administrative posts, he still remains a faculty member at heart.  “As time allows, I hope to be involved in the classroom at CVCC,” he said during his last campus visit.

Dr. Labyak is currently employed by Owensboro Community and Technical College in Owensboro , Kentucky , where he was hired as Dean of Academic Affairs in 1999.  He will join the CVCC staff after the New Year.  A strong advocate of lifelong learning, Dr. Labyak is pursuing additional graduate coursework in history this fall that will complement his doctorate in historical geography. 

Dr. Labyak succeeds Dr. James Lowe who is now interim president at Bishop State Community College in Mobile .